, born Everett LeRoi Joins, was a poet, playwright and political organizer whose career spanned more than five decades.
After the assassination of Malcom X, Baraka moved to Harlem where he founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre, an organization that helped fuel the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Baraka’s book was the first book of black music history written by a black author.
In addition to his prolific artistic career, Baraka was also a powerful political organizer who played an important role with the Congress of African People (CAP). at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History explores Baraka’s life and work.
Host Frank Stasio is joined by three participants in tomorrow’s symposium: , renowned poet and activist who is a longtime friend and colleague of Amiri Baraka; , activist and scholar who authored the book “Amiri Baraka and the Congress of African People: History and Memory” (Palgrave MacMillan/2015); and , professor of African/African-American Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill and the director of Stone Center.
Watch a trailer for a new documentary about Sonia Sanchez and the Black Arts Movement, "https://vimeo.com/136690920">baddDDD Sonia Sanchez."