When Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones) made his transition on January 9, 2014 at age 79, people quickly came together to support his wife of over 40 years, Amina Baraka and his nine children, deal with a loss that not only profoundly effected them, personally, but an entire community of artists, activists and intellectuals. The Baraka family organized a wake and funeral befitting this prolific poet, playwright and activist.
When poets pass away, more often than not poets coming together to commemorate the passing of a loved one with poetry. This was no different with the passing of Amiri Baraka. The major difference here is that Baraka was an icon. Internationally known, he helped forge the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, published over 40 books, and was an “agitator for progress.” Hundreds of people waited in line for over an hour to pay their respects at Baraka’s wake at Metropolitan Baptist Church on Springfield Avenue in Newark, including notbales such as Reverend Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee. The funeral was held at Symphony Hall’s Sarah Vaughn Hall, an historical concert hall in Newark where legendary jazz singers and musicians once performed. Attended by family members, friends and fans, it was only appropriate that Newark’s authentic Poet Laureate and the last Poet Laureate of the State of New Jersey’s funeral services be held there.
Baraka was a mentor and friend to a number of younger poets; so, it was apropos that award-winning poet-activist and 2Leaf Press author, Tony Medina, along with fellow poet-activists Jessica Care Moore, Asha Bandale, and Saul Williams, were asked to participate in Amiri Baraka’s homegoing ceremony to celebrate his ingenious wisdom and relentless revolutionary spirit. Elder poets Sonia Sanchez, Askia M. Toure, Haki Madhubuti, also participated in the service, reading tributes and poems for their friend and colleague. Medina, who was selected to open the funeral service, set the tone in fist-shaking style filled with indictments (of Baraka’s detractors), biting humor and a heartfelt section recalling his initial response to Baraka’s passing the day before his birthday. Medina’s tribute, “Running the Voodoo Down for Amiri B,” points out Baraka’s cultural significance in life, as well as the cultural, ideological struggles he engaged in though out his fifty-some-odd-year literary and activist career.
“Baraka spoke in a language of Bopulicitous intent
James Brown black Langston Hughes blue
Mouth of Malcolm Baldwin eyes
Big as suns & moons
Making sure we never in the dark—
with ghosts! . . .
Imamu spoke in a language
Unshakable sylla-stanza-break-dance-able funk lore free
Yet always with that tenderness & slant he peeped in Miles
Full of a lyrical expanse that climbed its rhythm
Deep into the cathedral of your bones”
Medina says, “Being there was ominous, but it felt really good to be there and I was honored to be the first speaker. I’ve known Amiri for almost 30 years, and early on he saw some kind of kinship with me and has always supported my work. Amiri was a maximum hero of mine, a mentor and teacher, and we were basically comrades in the struggle from different generations. While his passing has deeply affected all us, when you see word warriors such as Ras Baraka, Asha Bandele, Jessica Care Moore and Saul Williams, plus the artists, musicians and activists who showed up for Baraka and shared a part of their genius under one roof, there is an assurance the community will continue to push forward and carry on in the tradition of Amiri Baraka.”
Baraka’s funeral services were moderated by actor Danny Glover and theater producer Woodie King, Jr. both longtime close friends of Baraka. Glover indicated that it was Amiri Baraka who initially inspired him to become an actor when Baraka was teaching at San Francisco State during the late 60s. Jazz musicians (Craig Harris, Oliver Lake, David Murray, Hamiet Bluiett and Joe Rodriguez) and singers, African drummers and Newark native tap dance wizard Savion Glover all wowed the audience with their extraordinary tributes. The highlight of the program was Ras Baraka, who gave an electrifying, soul-stirring eulogy of his father.
The homegoing, which was covered by The New York Times, television news outlets and the AP wire, as well as being livestreamed and written about in The Root, numerous blogs and on social media sites, had many other notable participants in Baraka’s funeral services included professors Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson and Obery Hendricks; and actors Glynn Turman and Avery Brooks. In attendance were some of the most talented poets, writers and musicians in society, all gathered to pay their last respects to the legendary master poet and playwright of this century, who has always been known as a controversial, yet ingenious artist, political activist and leader. His presence will be deeply missed.
