NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
© 2001 by New York University
All rights reserved
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Amiri Baraka and to the
Sterling Lord Agency for permission to reprint excerpts from Baraka’s
works. The New York Public Library is acknowledged for permission
to use the LeRoy McLucas photograph of Baraka on the cover.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Watts, Jerry Gafio.
Amiri Baraka : the politics and art of a Black intellectual / Jerry
Gafio Watts.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8147-9373-8
1. Baraka, Imamu Amiri, 1934–—Political and social views.
2. Politics and literature—United States—History—20th century.
3. Baraka, Imamu Amiri, 1934– —Criticism and interpretation.
4. African Americans—Politics and government. 5. African
Americans—Intellectual life. 6. Blacks—Politics and government.
7. African Americans in literature. 8. Blacks—Intellectual life.
9. Blacks in literature. I. Title.
PS3552.A583 Z93 2001
818′.5409—dc21 2001002006
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper,
and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1