September 4, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Celeste Bateman
973.705.8253
Literary Giant Amiri Baraka
October 3-9, 2009
Newark, NJ – A group of community activists, performers, educators, civic organizers, arts administrators and others have begun meeting to plan the 75th birthday celebration of renowned poet, author and community activist Amiri Baraka. Baraka turns 75 on Wednesday, October 7, 2009.
The celebration will center around Baraka’s social activism and his life-long involvement in the arts and politics. There will be poetry readings, performances, an art exhibition, a gala and other ancillary programs. All activities will take place in the city of Newark. “It is only right that we honor one of America's greatest national treasures, Amiri Baraka, our native son of Newark," says planning committee chair David Muhammad.
Amiri Baraka was born Everett LeRoi Jones in 1934 in Newark, NJ. After leaving Howard University and the Air Force, he moved to the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1957 and co-edited the avant-garde literary magazine Yugen and founded Totem Press which first published works by Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and others.
His reputation as a playwright was established with the production of Dutchman at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York on March 24, 1964. The controversial play subsequently won an Obie Award (for "Best off-Broadway play") and was made into a film. (The play was revived by the Cherry Lane Theatre in January 2007 and has been reproduced around the world).
In 1965, Jones moved to Harlem, where he founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School. The BARTS lasted only one year but had a lasting influence on the direction of African American arts.
In 1966, when the BARTS was dissolved, Baraka returned to Newark, his hometown and set up with his wife, Amina Baraka, (who was a founder of Newark’s “Loft” a local venue of contemporary art), Spirit House and the Spirit House Movers, which brought drama, music and poetry from across the country.
During this period, the Barakas founded the Committee for Unified Newark (CFUN) and the Congress of Afrikan People which led to the election of Kenneth A. Gibson as the first Black mayor of a major northeastern city spearheaded by the 1972 Convention in Gary, IN. In 1968, he co-edited
Baraka and his wife Amina edited The Music (Meditations of Jazz & Blues (Morrow) and Confirmation: An Anthology of African-American Women which won an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. The Autobiography of LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka was published in 1984. Other publications include Y’s/Why’s/Wise (3rd World 1992), Funk LoreLittoral 1993), Eulogies (Marsilio 1994), Transbluesency (Marsilio 1996), Somebody Blew Up America & Other Poems (Nehesi 2002).
Amiri Baraka's numerous literary honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Rockefeller Foundation Award for Drama, the Langston Hughes Award from The City College of New York, and a lifetime achievement award from the Before Columbus Foundation. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1995. In 1994, he retired as Professor of Africana Studies at the State University of New York in Stony Brook, and in 2002 was named Poet Laureate of New Jersey and Newark Public Schools. His recent book of short stories, Tales of the Out & The Gone (Akashic Books) was published in late 2007. Home, his book of social essays, was re-released by Akashic Books in early 2009 along with Digging: The Afro American Soul of Classical Music(Univ. of California). Amiri and Amina Baraka have been married over 40 years and have five children including the late Shani Baraka.
Saturday, October 3
The first Jazz Vespers of the 2009-2010 season at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 West Market Street in Newark, Saturday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m. is dedicated to Baraka and will feature renowned pianist/composer Randy Weston. Amiri grew up in Bethany where his parents served on the Deacon Board for many years. Admission is free.
Tuesday, October 6
There will be an exhibition of Baraka’s drawings at aljira: a Center for Contemporary Art. The opening reception will be held Tuesday, October 6 , 6:00-8:00 p.m. at 591 Broad Street. Admission is Free.
Wednesday, October 7
A birthday jam will be held Wednesday, October 7, 7:00-11:00 p.m. at the WISOMMM Cultural Center, 15 James St. in downtown Newark featuring a jazz jam session with local and nationally renowned musicians. Tickets are $50 which includes a light buffet, live entertainment and complimentary wine.
The house band includes Steve Colson (piano), Pheeroan Aklaff (drums) and Andy McCloud (bass), and will be joined by a host of singers and musicians among them Saxophonists David Murray, Rene Mclean, Bradford Hayes and Leo Johnson; Trombonist Dick Griffin; Bassist Henry Grimes, and Vocalists Carrie Jackson, Iqua Colson, Joy Foster, Dwight West, Gene Goldson, Gil "Bebop" Benson and Yvette Glover.
Thursday, October 8
A literary event, “Baraka Book and Birthday Bash” hosted by The Newark Public Library, 5 Washington St. will take place Thursday, October 8. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and will include poetry readings by young poets Margie Johnson, Gerald Arthur, K. Desiree Milwood and poet/filmmaker Bryan Green; short film screenings and a book signing with Amiri Baraka.
Friday, October 9
On Friday, October 9, a symposium, The Political Evolution of Amiri Baraka, will be held at Central High School Auditorium, 246 18th Avenue in Newark at 6:00 p..m. Panelists include, Amina Baraka; reporter, poet and activist Felipe Luciano, an original member of the Last Poets and founding member of the Young Lords and Komozi Woodard, author of A Nation Within a Nation. Al-Tariq Shabazz will serve as moderator. Admission is free and open to the public.
Updated information on all events will be posted on the official website at www.Amirib75.com. The National Black United Fund serves as fiscal agent for the planning committee. For additional information, please visit the website at www.AmiriB75.com or call David Muhammad at (973) 698-9504.
Miguel Algarin, Poet
Dr. Maya Angelou, Author and Activist
Ed Bullins, Activist and Author
Ben Caldwell, Writer
Jayne Cortez, Artist
William Cosby, Jr., D.Ed. Actor and Comedian
Ruby Dee, Actress and Activist
Mel Edwards, Artist
Danny Glover, Actor and Activist
Balozi Harvey, Activist and Entrepreneur
Rev. William Howard, Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, Newark, NJ
Clifford Janey, PhD, Superintendent, Newark Public Schools
Felipe Luciano, Reporter, Activist, Founding Member of the Last Poets
Haki R. Madhabuti, PhD Activist, Author, Poet, Educator and Publisher
James Mtume, Artist, Activist, Co-host, 98.7 Kiss FM, Open Line
Gil Noble, Host of WABC TV Show,
Rep. Donald Payne, NJ Congressman
Kevin Powell, Author and Activist
Sonia Sanchez, Poet, Author and Activist
Ntozake Shange, Playwright
David Shakes, Educator
Hon. Cleopatra Tucker, NJ Assemblywoman
Cornel West, PhD Author, Civil Rights Activist and Professor
Marvin X, Activist and Author
Planning Committee
David Muhammad, Chair
Celeste Bateman
Fredrica Bey
Akili Buchanon
Richard Cammarieri
Margaret Cammarieri
Risasi Dais
Victor Davson
Juba Dowdell
Herbert D. Glenn
Roy Hargrove, Jr.
Mae Jackson
Larry Johnson
Rachel Johnson
Ben Jones
Kellie Jones
Woody King, Jr.
Barbara J. Kukla
Theresa Marshall
Kevin Maynor
Herbie Morgan
Pamela Morgan
Linwood J. Oglesby
Clement A Price, Ph.D.
Leon Purdie
S. George Reed
Antoinette B.Richardson
David Shakes
Philip S. Thomas
Richard Wesley
Valerie Wilson Wesley
Dwight West
Sandra L. West
Junius Williams, Esq.
Baye Wilson
Komozi Woodard
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