Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Amiri Baraka

Role / Field:

Pioneering African-American writer whose work defined Black liberation themes.

Born:

1934-10-07

Died:

2014-01-09

Century / Era:

1934s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Amiri Baraka (born Everett Leroy Jones; October 7, 1934 – January 9, 2014), previously known as LeRoi Jones and Imamu Amear Baraka, was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays, and music criticism. He was the author of numerous books of poetry and taught at several universities, including the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University. He received the PEN/Beyond Margins Award in 2008 for Tales of the Out and the Gone. Baraka's plays, poetry, and essays have been described by scholars as constituting defining texts for African-American culture.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Baraka's career spanned nearly 52 years, and his themes range from Black liberation to White racism. His notable works of criticism and poetry include "The Music: Reflection on Jazz and Blues", "The Book of Monk", and "New Music, New Poetry", works that draw on topics from the worlds of society, music, and literature. Baraka's poetry and writing have attracted both high praise and condemnation. In the African-American community, some compare Baraka to James Baldwin and recognize him as one of the most respected and most widely published Black writers of his generation, though some have said his work is an expression of violence...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abimael Guzmán — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Peruvian Maoist revolutionary leader, founder of the Shining Path.
• Aboul-Qacem Echebbi — Contemporary (Died in 1934) (1934): Influential Tunisian poet, celebrated for his passionate verses and nationalistic spirit.
• Alan Arkin — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Contemporary (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Alain Resnais — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering French filmmaker exploring memory, consciousness, and narrative structure.
• Alexander Grothendieck — Contemporary (Died in 2014) (2014): Pioneering figure in modern algebraic geometry and category theory.
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Abd Allah al-Ghafiqi — Shared historical date (10-07 · Died) (732): Umayyad commander who led Andalusian forces against the Franks, dying at Tours.
• Agnes de Mille — Shared historical date (10-07 · Died) (1993): Pioneering American choreographer known for blending ballet with modern dance.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Shared historical date (01-09 · Died) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alec Jeffreys — Shared historical date (01-09 · Born) (1950): Pioneering geneticist known for developing DNA fingerprinting and profiling techniques.
• 1934 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1934
• October 7 (10-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 7
• 2014 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2014
• January 9 (01-09) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 9

Frequently Asked Questions about Amiri Baraka