i met amiri in 1991 when i was a student at lsu..i had only been writing poetry for a couple of years and i had wrote a poem about the first iraq war and got it published in the school newspaper. the day it came out amiri gave a poetry reading at my schoo, which a workshop followed. he told me he saw my poem and liked it. the main reason why i became a poet was this man. and i'm still writing after 23 years
I needed your words again today. Rest in peace brother. We carry on in this war, knowing WHO the devil is and not quite fighting back yet but getting close. The pot will boil over. The devil will have his day.
I'm so glad he came to my college and I got to meet him when I was 18, I wish I still had the book he gave me, but I don't think I understood his impact back then.
Jolly Rotten JR you are wasting your time wishing. Follow him become a poet. write your own book and slay them with rhythmic wisdom. Become Amiri Baraka. Our brother lives. Forever!
*ucking conspiracy theory -there's why. How about black cops murdering black guys? How about African chiefs hunting out their won to sell them off to white slavers? Not so simple.
Baba Amiri Baraka my all time favourite poet and totally politically self-conscious. Baba Baraka is my inspier and hero. Ase Baba Amiri Baraka and the Scottsboro Nine.
Loved this man! Just heard about this poem and I'm so glad for UA-cam giving me the opportunity to witness Baraka performing it. What an artistic, political powerhouse...May he rest in peace.
My dear Brother Amiri Baraka, You will be missed on this Earth. Thanks for everything you did to elevate Humankind, for speaking the truth. Thanks. Rest in Peace.
This golden word will always be in our spirit everyday This man was more than Great Great Amiri look over us we will continue to listen and Hear more thank you
RIP To an American cultural heavyweight and true African warrior that spit on black liberal political correctness.You will be missed,brotha. The struggle continues...
One of the Highlights of my residence in Downtown L.A. in the 70's was having Brother Amiri come to my Studio opening and Read. That night Ojenke, Kamau, and K.Curtis Lyle read blowing up the Space, it was one for the ages.
Yesterday was the April 24th, 105 years ago that day started the Armenian Genocide... Thank you for mentioning one of the truths behind the "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE". With Love to you, Amiri, thanks for the truth you tell about this messed up Earth..
I can't believe people think that this is a poem about anti semitism! Amiri baraka is an absolute genius! I love him! From a first year college student who is delighted he's studying English!
this guy is on point. reactionary accusations that are propelled by guilt are only reveal the authors fear. I know that Amiri is not talking about me. Until my white brother and sister cop to our collective responsibility and can hear and tell the truth you will rage and shiver with guilt and self recrimination..
I live in a country which was once a British colony, and although you have a point it still stands that the white man put down the black man(oversimplification), America is the only country in human history to ever use nuclear weapons on a country.....talk about diplomacy? isis also one of america's problem how many countless people killed because of this so called "holy war"? mass graves in my country "gukurahunde" its also shocking that black on black crimes are higher than white on black to me this is somewhat odd, i then get back to one of your points "Why should only whites cop to these" no matter how we want to look at it, the white man really messed up especially slavery but then again in africa before the white man came the arabs were already taking black people as slaves....will it ever end?. i take it you are a neutral which is good, yes white people have played a great role in stamping out slavery..but they also committed great crimes NOW my question is WHY SLAVERY IN THE FIRST PLACE?but at the end of the day i believe that as the human race we must advance as one collective mind i believe thats the only way to progress forward...
happy soul day, legend, phenomenal work,,,, this poem has so much information, those with inquisitive minds will end up reading a lot of books referenced by it,,, from anything by Harriet A Washington to Dorothy E Roberts to Nancy Turner Banks,,,, from King Leopold's ghost to Biko's i write what i like,,,
wow, some of these comments are really something :P This poem is very powerful. You can hear the passion in Baraka's voice as he is trying to find someone to take the blame for all the terrible things that have happened in America. I like how he exposes this country and goes against the image of compassionate, free America. This poem really makes you think and want to question American leadership. Also, love the saxophone. -Emily M.
I really liked this video because of the way it was performed but mainly because the poem itself. It is extremely moving to hear somebody speak like this when most people wouldn't dare to. I feel like personally i do not know enough about the things he is talking about to have my own full opinion, but i do know that their are some thing i agree with and some i disagree with which to me makes the video even more interesting. - Stoia
I often read his poems on anthologies of: beat generation (wtf?) and New York poets (and he was from NJ)... but thanks to beats and NewYorkers for made me know this great author. Gonna start soon a book of short stories ordered by Canada
Like the Cortez video, an instrument is used as well. I believe that Baraka's poem has a fierce, if I may say, feeling to it. His tone is so strong, and it feels like he is giving a speech and is trying to get a point across to people. The sax created an atmosphere as if you were in a bar or place where there was like an open mic event and people were reading their works. This was a very interesting video, that puts me in a jazzy or blues type of atmosphere. -James
A miraculous flow of imperialistic truths and a defiance to our collective colonial masters. A masterpiece!!! Couldn’t be more relevant today. Bravo
What's brilliant about this piece is that, it sounds as if Baraka is asking a question…when really he's explaining the answer.
pro tip: watch movies on Flixzone. Been using it for watching a lot of movies recently.
@Uriel Aden yup, have been using Flixzone for months myself =)
GENIUS!!!
It's stunning... Who? Who? Who?
The white capitalist comes to mind
i met amiri in 1991 when i was a student at lsu..i had only been writing poetry for a couple of years and i had wrote a poem about the first iraq war and got it published in the school newspaper. the day it came out amiri gave a poetry reading at my schoo, which a workshop followed. he told me he saw my poem and liked it. the main reason why i became a poet was this man. and i'm still writing after 23 years
R.I.P. AMIRI BARAKA YOUR POETRY AND POWERFUL WORDS WILL LIVE FOREVER IN MY HEART.
Who’s here in 2024?
Who? we're all here
I needed your words again today. Rest in peace brother. We carry on in this war, knowing WHO the devil is and not quite fighting back yet but getting close. The pot will boil over. The devil will have his day.
"Who owns what ain't known to be own" That's one of the deepest funniest lines in this poem , but very true indeed .
HE WAS A GREAT BROTHER. CONCIOUS EDUCATED . A EXTREMELY TALENTED BLACK RENAISSANCE POET . HE STOOD UP FOR OUR POC. RESPECT TO THE KING OF NJ !
Hope some of your friends and family are woke to the truth spoken here. I'm from philly btw. Some people don't want to hear it unfortunately
this is more pertinent now more than ever it seems. rest in peace Amiri Baraka
Just because you opened your eyes doesn't mean what you see is new.
Yup
tito, right. this ain't schrodinger's gato. we know what it is.
Yup
This is a wonderful poem. The poet looks behind the curtain and reports back on what he has seen. It is called in biblical terms, a vision.
People always have had visions
7. 2023 Supreme Court said affirmative action got to go. Prophetic 😢
R.I.P the greatest of the original beatnik poets, he was outspoken and never compromised...a true revolutionary poet
this KING! gone, but never ever forgotten! AMIRI BARAKA
One of the best poems of our time.
I'm so glad he came to my college and I got to meet him when I was 18, I wish I still had the book he gave me, but I don't think I understood his impact back then.
I know that is a moment you will never forget.
Jolly Rotten JR you are wasting your time wishing. Follow him become a poet. write your own book and slay them with rhythmic wisdom. Become Amiri Baraka. Our brother lives. Forever!
I can't believe he got in trouble for this. It's just poetry.... his perspective on the world. It's art. It's beautiful.
I guess it goes beyond poetry. it is not just poetry. it is the truth apparently.
*ucking conspiracy theory -there's why. How about black cops murdering black guys? How about African chiefs hunting out their won to sell them off to white slavers? Not so simple.
Respect from Algeria, your works will always be in my mind
Preach Sir Amiri!! Thank goodness he left us with such a prolific and profound category of TRUTH!!
Amiri (Imamu) Baraka you're an inspiration like no other. You will live on in our minds, spirits, and hearts...an eternity!
I met and shook his hand at the Geraldine Dodge Festival in 2010. His reading of this poem there is still etched in my memory.
A huge loss to us all! What a great man and poet! Peace!
Rest in power!!!..Indeed !!!..Woke me....Showed me!!..Sad!! Heavy, like getting hurt!!..
Baba Amiri Baraka my all time favourite poet and totally politically self-conscious.
Baba Baraka is my inspier and hero.
Ase Baba Amiri Baraka and the Scottsboro Nine.
May he rest in TRUTH and LOVE along w/ all the other ancestors. Peace Baraka, peace.
One of my favorite pieces from Amiri Baraka. I still remember this from Grad School.
I pray that the next generation will pick up where this visionary of a man left off. Thank you for loving Jerz. #Baraka
One can only hope if we put down the remote & turn off Love & Hip Hop..one could only hope.
I grew up in Newark and remember live sessions like this on the radio.
You will be missed my brother, you will never be too far! Thank you so much for being you!~~
ONE of the Brightest, greatest talents of MY GENERATION, & BEHOND.....PS SIP in the AFTERLIFE....
we had to listen to this poem in school..this is the strongest poem I have ever heard.
Wow, what force of words rattle the rafters with this string of pearls. He summarized the essence of the sickness in nine and a half minutes.
I'LL NEVER FORGET BARAKA!!!!!! MAY HE REST IN PEACE!!!!!!!!
A powerful poem eloquently rendered by an elegant man, accompanied by an accomplished saxophonist!
timeless poems you wish wouldn't be timeless...
forever onwards, brave soul, a true fighter against opression
Loved this man! Just heard about this poem and I'm so glad for UA-cam giving me the opportunity to witness Baraka performing it. What an artistic, political powerhouse...May he rest in peace.
Man Who Who who long live New Afrikan Imamu Amiri Baraka Dammm it !!! Struggle Forward!!!
ASE', ASE', ASE'!!!
Thank you, folks at the Sanctuary, for doing such a fine job of recording this historic poet and poem. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Wise words spoken by a wise man.
My dear Brother Amiri Baraka,
You will be missed on this Earth. Thanks for everything you did to elevate Humankind, for speaking the truth.
Thanks.
Rest in Peace.
A great speech from a great man. RIP Amiri
OMG this made me just sit and wonder.....
This golden word will always be in our spirit everyday This man was more than Great Great Amiri look over us we will continue to listen and Hear more thank you
God bless this truth!!!!
+Jason Sellers yesssss
in the end if you did not clap, you did not understand and wow the poet
WOW POWERFUL! THANKS!
Rest in Power Amiri Baraka
RIP
To an American cultural heavyweight and true African warrior that spit on black liberal political correctness.You will be missed,brotha.
The struggle continues...
A Legend, A Poet, A Advocate who will be missed. RIP!
I remember the words of brother Marley: "How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand across and look?"
This guy's one of very few who actually KNOWS who did all this :) Love love love him!
I was just listening to this in my writing thru literature class at Laguardia CC
One of the Highlights of my residence in Downtown L.A. in the 70's was having Brother Amiri come to my Studio opening and Read. That night Ojenke, Kamau, and K.Curtis Lyle read blowing up the Space, it was one for the ages.
Thank you for sharing your heart, your powerful poetic gift & your uncompromising courage RIP Amiri Baraka
9-11-2022!!! You will not forget and neither shall we!
the greatest poet alive.
His poetry will live forever, this is such a beautiful piece of wonder! :) I love the sax with it! :)
Yesterday was the April 24th, 105 years ago that day started the Armenian Genocide...
Thank you for mentioning one of the truths behind the "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE". With Love to you, Amiri, thanks for the truth you tell about this messed up Earth..
So powerful... thank you for this timeless material.
beautiful - i'm just learning about Amiri now - what a gift it must have been to be present when he spoke rip
I can't believe people think that this is a poem about anti semitism! Amiri baraka is an absolute genius! I love him! From a first year college student who is delighted he's studying English!
This is amazing!!
Thank you, ancestor Amiri.
Speak!!!!!!!! Preach!!!!
He was a great poet.
The ancestors are now rejoicing...thank you my brother.
this guy is on point. reactionary accusations that are propelled by guilt are only reveal the authors fear.
I know that Amiri is not talking about me. Until my white brother and sister cop to our collective responsibility and can hear and tell the truth you will rage and shiver with guilt and self recrimination..
I salute you sir
spot on.
Right on my white brother. Now we call you brother.
Fake
I live in a country which was once a British colony, and although you have a point it still stands that the white man put down the black man(oversimplification), America is the only country in human history to ever use nuclear weapons on a country.....talk about diplomacy? isis also one of america's problem how many countless people killed because of this so called "holy war"? mass graves in my country "gukurahunde" its also shocking that black on black crimes are higher than white on black to me this is somewhat odd, i then get back to one of your points "Why should only whites cop to these" no matter how we want to look at it, the white man really messed up especially slavery but then again in africa before the white man came the arabs were already taking black people as slaves....will it ever end?. i take it you are a neutral which is good, yes white people have played a great role in stamping out slavery..but they also committed great crimes NOW my question is WHY SLAVERY IN THE FIRST PLACE?but at the end of the day i believe that as the human race we must advance as one collective mind i believe thats the only way to progress forward...
Burn it down, Brother Amiri. ✊🏼
Wow! Powerful. It stirred something in me.
The truth & riffing on Monk. Perfect...
Every time I watch this I pick up on something new
happy soul day, legend, phenomenal work,,,, this poem has so much information, those with inquisitive minds will end up reading a lot of books referenced by it,,, from anything by Harriet A Washington to Dorothy E Roberts to Nancy Turner Banks,,,, from King Leopold's ghost to Biko's i write what i like,,,
This is indeed the truth presented eloquently through the grace of God
Rest in Paradise teacher poet ...
Beyond Brilliant!
Rest Easy Brother!
Powerful. Profound. Brutally blunt...
one of my favorite poems...my inspiration.
This is a master piece. Magnificent!
wow, some of these comments are really something :P This poem is very powerful. You can hear the passion in Baraka's voice as he is trying to find someone to take the blame for all the terrible things that have happened in America. I like how he exposes this country and goes against the image of compassionate, free America. This poem really makes you think and want to question American leadership. Also, love the saxophone. -Emily M.
God Bless your fine soul, my Brother
POWERFUL!
Brotha be well on your peaceful journey....you were and forever will be warm inspiration
I really liked this video because of the way it was performed but mainly because the poem itself. It is extremely moving to hear somebody speak like this when most people wouldn't dare to. I feel like personally i do not know enough about the things he is talking about to have my own full opinion, but i do know that their are some thing i agree with and some i disagree with which to me makes the video even more interesting. - Stoia
Genius...
Long Live Amiri Baraka!
i love amirri baracka great man i love this man truth is truth love it
Amazing...Rest in Power
Rest in POWER. .!!!Excellent!
Here on the day Dick Gregory died. Seems only fitting. RIP gentlemen! The world is in dire need of your voice and courage.
man ive been a fan half my life and im a hispanic man in his 30s..
Rest in POWER sire. We salute you!
I often read his poems on anthologies of: beat generation (wtf?) and New York poets (and he was from NJ)... but thanks to beats and NewYorkers for made me know this great author. Gonna start soon a book of short stories ordered by Canada
The goatttt
Who will take over where this man left off? RIP Amiri Baraka.
U'll b missed mr baraka .... U nd ur family watch me grow from a lil boy 2 da man i am now
My goose bumps always tell me when I hear the truth......
Powerful. He asks "WHO", I answer "WE".
Just found out about Baraka love his words
I LOVE his mind. He tells the truth but is still not a racist. I don't like racist...black or white.
Like the Cortez video, an instrument is used as well. I believe that Baraka's poem has a fierce, if I may say, feeling to it. His tone is so strong, and it feels like he is giving a speech and is trying to get a point across to people. The sax created an atmosphere as if you were in a bar or place where there was like an open mic event and people were reading their works. This was a very interesting video, that puts me in a jazzy or blues type of atmosphere.
-James
DAMN! that was intense.
KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF BLISS /SURPRISE KNOWLEDGE IS HERE