November 2007 Interview: Amiri and Amina Baraka
Introduction
Born Everett LeRoi Jones in 1934, Amiri Baraka changed his name in 1967 the same year he became a lecturer at San Francisco State University. The author of some 40 books of essays, poems, drama and history, Baraka is one of the most influential and controversial artists of the 20th Century. The former Poet Laureate of New Jersey, Baraka’s poem titled “Somebody Blew Up America” caused the Governor of New Jersey to abolish the Poet Laureate title, just to strip Baraka of the honor. Amina Baraka (Amiri’s wife of over 40 years) is an author, poet and co-director of the word-music ensemble, Blue Ark. Mr. and Mrs. Baraka, welcome to Blackademics.
