Poet, playwright and political activist Amiri Baraka addressed an audience of over 200 University students and guests last night. Baraka delivered a lecture about the current state of African-Americans in the U.S. and shared some of his famous lyric poetry.
Baraka said the interests of blacks are grossly underrepresented and called upon University students to lead a movement to create an "African-American national consciousness and international awareness" to amend this problem.
Baraka also called for a number of changes to the U.S. government; changes he said must improve blacks' relationship with the government. Among these changes are the abolition of the electoral college and implementation of a popular vote, elimination of private monies from elections, institution of unicameral Congress and restoration of voting rights to ex-felons.
"We must change our relationship with this country," Baraka said. "We were brought here in the bottoms of slave ships. We were not brought here to tap dance or grin on television. We were brought here to work for other people, and we must end that relationship."
While Baraka is a prolific writer of novels and plays, he is best known for his volumes of lyric poetry, poetry which, according to Maurice Apprey, interim dean of the Office of African-American Affairs, allows readers to share in the historical experiences it recreates.
"Who is there to remind us of how human experiences are set into history and brought to the surface -- the lyric poet," Apprey said. "Lyric poets like Amiri Baraka take embedded human emotions, lift them, from the depths and allow the rest of us to share in the experiences they want to share with us."
Baraka ended the evening by sharing one of his most controversial lyric poems, entitled "Somebody Blew Up America," which discusses the 9/11 attacks. Publication of the poem, which suggests that white Americans were culpable for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, sparked fierce debate and resulted in early termination of Baraka's term as Poet Laureate of New Jersey. After refusing to abide by the governor's request that he resign, Baraka was removed from this office when the New Jersey legislature removed the post of Poet Laureate.
Read More
Research grant gaps, flight cancellations among costs of 43-day government shutdown
By Grace Little | 9 hours agoAreas that felt the deficits include federally-funded research, telemedicine services offered through U.Va. Health and canceled flights for holiday travel.
Student Council discusses potential student detoxification center, lockdown aftermath
By Jaylynn Perez | 14 hours agoStudent Council met Tuesday to discuss a potential proposal for a student detoxification center on Grounds following growing concerns about student safety and medical amnesty policies.
Honor Committee discusses its co-sponsorship with the Lighting of the Lawn committee
By Michael Racz | 15 hours agoThis year's co-sponsorship with Honor will give LOTL an additional $10,000 and will give Honor a table on South Lawn.
