Amiri Baraka, poet, playwright and activist, dies at 79

Photo of Amiri Baraka

Amiri Baraka, the provocative Black writer, activist and iconic figure of the 1960’s Black Arts Movement, died today in Newark, NJ. He was 79 years old. Mr. Baraka taught at Yale several decades ago; he had been scheduled to speak at Beinecke Library in April of this year, in an event sponsored by Beinecke and the Department of African American Studies. 

The African American Studies Dept. mourns the passing of Amiri Baraka and extends its sincere condolences to his family.

Follow this link to view a selection of Beinecke holdings on the Black Arts Repertory Theater/School founded by Amiri Baraka: http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/7787411

Read an obituary of Amiri Baraka at:

NPR:
“Amiri Baraka’s Legacy Both Controversial And Achingly Beautiful”
by Neda Ulaby, January 09, 2014 5:02 PM ET
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/09/261101520/amiri-baraka-poet-and-co-founder…

n the New York Times:
“Amiri Baraka, polarizing poet and playwright, dies at 79”
by Margalit Fox, January 9, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/arts/amiri-baraka-polarizing-poet-and-…

Additionally, see:

Howard University honors Amiri Baraka
http://library.howard.edu/baraka_tribute

This page was updated to reflect additional responses to the life and legacy of Amiri Baraka on Thursday, May 29, 2014.

Thursday, January 9, 2014