Baraka evokes political controversy through poetry
By Elizabeth Turnbull
Arts & Entertainment Editor

When Amiri Baraka, who holds the impressive credentials of celebrated playwright and poet, Black Nationalist and Third World Marxist , came to campus March 1, students, faculty and community members went to listen and learn.

The provocative evening, entitled "A Night of Lifted Voices," was the culmination of the Office of Multicultural Affairs' celebrations of Black History Month and featured several local talents as well as Baraka.

"Witness voices that were once silent now sing," Lamaya Covington, the assistant director of Multicultural Affairs, said in her welcome address.

Nocturnal Collective, a hip-hop group, opened with several pieces from its album Pinched at First.

A clever acrostic rap using the group's name as the springboard followed an emotionally charged poem about pop-culturalization and commercialization of black culture and hip-hop.

A poetry exhibition set the scene for Baraka's coming performance and featured pieces by Exodus, Tameka, King and Lucious, who represented Earthworks of South Carolina and Sankofa of Texas.

The best piece of the exhibition was Exodus's "Boxes," what he describes as his signature piece.

Spouting inspirational lines such as "mistakes are nothing but chances to learn," he told of his struggle to escape his box and find his place in the world.

"Learn from yourself and start being yourself É and stand outside the square," Exodus chanted rhythmically, encouraging audience feedback.

King also delivered a provocative piece full of Biblical stories reapplied to the black life with hip-hop undertones.

"If freedom is truly paid for," King asked, "Who's check bounced?"

But the crux of the evening came when the legendary Baraka, a man bowed with age but with as much pride and spunk as ever, took the stage to the applause of a standing ovation.

"It's always good to hear extreme conflict," he said.

True to his word, Baraka filled his lecture and performance with provocative and definitely extreme ideas. While few may agree with his political ideas, even fewer would dispute his talent as a speaker and poet.

After a few words of political commentary, which would continue to be interspersed throughout his poetry and talk, Baraka began to read from his "Lokus."

"If the Japanese have Haiku, I figure we could have a Loku," Baraka joked. The defiant poem of the same name set the tone for the rest of the evening:

"The first generation of Negroes was intimidated by white supremacy.

"The second generation of Negroes worshipped white supremacy.

Although humorous undertones lessened the tension, Baraka's message was clearly no joke.

Political commentary was just as much on Baraka's agenda as his poetry; the two are inseparably intertwined.

Baraka remembered the days of the Civil Rights movement and the call "Revolution is the main trend in the world today!"

"Many of the things we fought for in the 1950s we're already losing," Baraka said.

He cited Colin Powell and Clarence Thomas as examples of black Americans who have "sold out" to the white government and forgotten the Black cause.

The conflict of black identity versus American identity was another focal point of Baraka's delivery.

In his poem "Why is we Americans" Baraka delivers a poignant list of ills committed against blacks in American history.

"Why is we Americans? Never been free since we was selt," he says in his poem. Blacks are Americans "by burn, by scar É by race."

Baraka called for the government to right the wrongs of the past.

"We want damages paid to the Afro-American nation," he said, overpowered by strong applause and shouts of agreement. "Then we can talk about being American."

He continued, "Otherwise ¯ otherwise there's no future between us except war. Either give us our lives or plan to forfeit your own."

It takes a man of special talent to incorporate extremist ideas and make them accessible to the public, to turn pain into something that reads with singsong rhythmic beauty.

I could almost hear a set of drums in the background, keeping time as Baraka read off a list of empowering wisdom.

And I could hear the deathly silence, then the gasp as he called for extreme action and revolt.

Controversial, provocative, heated. Baraka lived up to his name in both poetic ability and fiery political delivery.