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Poet Amiri Baraka dies, aged 79 | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Poet and activist Amiri Baraka died on Thursday at the age of 79. | Poet and activist Amiri Baraka died on Thursday at the age of 79. |
Baraka died in hospital in New Jersey - where he had been since last month - surrounded by his family. | Baraka died in hospital in New Jersey - where he had been since last month - surrounded by his family. |
Baraka was initially associated with Beat generation poets such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. He published his first poetry collection in 1961. | Baraka was initially associated with Beat generation poets such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. He published his first poetry collection in 1961. |
He later became an advocate of a militant black separatist movement. In 1964, he garnered global attention for his explosive play Dutchman. | He later became an advocate of a militant black separatist movement. In 1964, he garnered global attention for his explosive play Dutchman. |
The play involved a white woman sexually taunting a black man on a subway - it ends with her stabbing him to death. | The play involved a white woman sexually taunting a black man on a subway - it ends with her stabbing him to death. |
The New York Times, in a 2007 review of a new production of the play, called it the "singular cultural emblem" of the black separatist movement in the United States. | The New York Times, in a 2007 review of a new production of the play, called it the "singular cultural emblem" of the black separatist movement in the United States. |
Black Arts Movement | Black Arts Movement |
Baraka wrote prolifically, including poems, short stories, novels, essays, plays and jazz operas. | Baraka wrote prolifically, including poems, short stories, novels, essays, plays and jazz operas. |
Among his better-known works are the non-fiction book Blues People: Negro Music in White America and the poetry collection The Dead Lecturer. | Among his better-known works are the non-fiction book Blues People: Negro Music in White America and the poetry collection The Dead Lecturer. |
He was born Everett LeRoi Jones, but following a radicalising trip to Cuba in 1960, he later adopted the name Amiri Baraka. | He was born Everett LeRoi Jones, but following a radicalising trip to Cuba in 1960, he later adopted the name Amiri Baraka. |
After the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X, Baraka played a principal role in the creation of the Black Arts Movement, as the head of a theatre and school in Harlem. | After the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X, Baraka played a principal role in the creation of the Black Arts Movement, as the head of a theatre and school in Harlem. |
He also divorced his wife, writer Hettie Cohen, with whom he had founded the literary magazine Yugen. | He also divorced his wife, writer Hettie Cohen, with whom he had founded the literary magazine Yugen. |
"We want poems that kill,'" Baraka wrote in his landmark Black Art manifesto published that year. | "We want poems that kill,'" Baraka wrote in his landmark Black Art manifesto published that year. |
"The Black Artist's role in America is to aid in the destruction of America as he knows it." | "The Black Artist's role in America is to aid in the destruction of America as he knows it." |
11 September attacks | 11 September attacks |
Among his accolades were the Rockefeller Foundation Award for Drama and a poetry award from the National Endowment for the Arts. | Among his accolades were the Rockefeller Foundation Award for Drama and a poetry award from the National Endowment for the Arts. |
In later years, he moderated his views on black nationalism, and became an avowed Marxist. | In later years, he moderated his views on black nationalism, and became an avowed Marxist. |
In 2002, as poet laureate of New Jersey, Baraka drew accusations of anti-Semitism over his poem Somebody Blew Up America, which referenced the 11 September 2001 attacks. | In 2002, as poet laureate of New Jersey, Baraka drew accusations of anti-Semitism over his poem Somebody Blew Up America, which referenced the 11 September 2001 attacks. |
Baraka refused then-New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's request for him to resign and, in response, a state law was passed eliminating the position of poet laureate. | Baraka refused then-New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey's request for him to resign and, in response, a state law was passed eliminating the position of poet laureate. |
"Poetry is underrated," Baraka told the New York Times in 2012, "so when they got rid of the poet laureate thing, I wrote a letter saying 'This is progress. In the old days, they could lock me up. Now they just take away my title.'" | "Poetry is underrated," Baraka told the New York Times in 2012, "so when they got rid of the poet laureate thing, I wrote a letter saying 'This is progress. In the old days, they could lock me up. Now they just take away my title.'" |
Latterly, he taught at Yale and George Washington University, and spent 20 years teaching at the State University of New York. | Latterly, he taught at Yale and George Washington University, and spent 20 years teaching at the State University of New York. |
In a statement following his death, Newark Mayor Luis Quintana hailed Baraka as a man who "used the power of the pen to advance the cause of civil rights". | In a statement following his death, Newark Mayor Luis Quintana hailed Baraka as a man who "used the power of the pen to advance the cause of civil rights". |
"Amiri Baraka's poetry and prose transcended ethnic and racial barriers, inspiring and energising audiences of many generations," Mr Quintana said. | "Amiri Baraka's poetry and prose transcended ethnic and racial barriers, inspiring and energising audiences of many generations," Mr Quintana said. |
He is survived by his second wife Amina - whom he married in 1966 - and several children. His daughter, Shani Baraka, was murdered in 2003. | He is survived by his second wife Amina - whom he married in 1966 - and several children. His daughter, Shani Baraka, was murdered in 2003. |
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