Baraka, Imamu Amiri

Baraka, Imamu Amiri (b. LeRoi Jones) (1934–  ) poet, writer; born in Newark, N.J. He studied at Howard University (B.A. 1953), traveled widely, and taught at many institutions, notably the State University of New York: Long Island (1980). He published a number of works as LeRoi Jones. A revolutionary African-American activist, he became a Muslim and changed his name in 1967. Based in Newark, N.J., he has been a publisher (1958), and founder of a repertory theater (1965), and a community center (1966). In addition to his poetry, such as Reggae or Not! (1982), he has written plays, short stories, essays, and nonfiction.