“Thought is more important than art. To revere art and have no understanding of the process that forces it into existence, is finally not even to understand what art is.” – Amari Baraka
The poet Imanu Amiri Baraka is widely considered to be the father of the Black Arts Movement. Imamu is a Swahili title for “spiritual leader.” Braka means blessing.
The Black Arts movement began in 1965 and ended in 1975. One of the most prominent figures in the Black Arts movement was Amiri Baraka (formerly LeRoi Jones), who began his career among the Beat generation. The Beat generation elevated jazz, in the 1940’s as an index to social protest.
The Black Arts Movement (also known as the aesthetic movement) is a cultural ideology that developed in America with the civil rights movement in the 1960’s which promoted black separatism in the arts. This movement is the aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept. It envisions an art that speaks directly to the needs and aspirations of Black America. The Black Arts movement envisions an art that speaks directly to the needs and aspirations of black America. The Black Arts movement was a period of artistic and literary development of black Americans in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
After the death of Martin Luther King, Amiri Baraka became a nationalist, moved to Harlem, and founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School. The artist of the Black Arts Movement, explored the African American culture and historical experience which transformed the way African Americans were portrayed in literature and the arts. The Black Arts movement was the medium of cultural expression and creativity.
Imari Baraka opened a Repertory school of the arts where workshops were held for black students to study jazz music, theater, performing art, poetry, dance, and literature. The Black Arts movement, to men, understood their own cultural identity against the racial oppression. What the Black Arts movement meant to women was to understand their roles as mothers, to identify with their sexuality as being lesbians, and to liberate their feminist views as nationalist.
The 60’s and 70’s had maintained the moral tradition of the Black Arts Movement with becoming the Avant grade of black conscience. Amari Baraka poems, “The Black Noise, Rose,” had become the symbol of American woes. The Black Arts movement is where black poets addressed the idioms and forms of cultural expression. Poets like Langston Hughes, “Dreams,” and Sonia Sanchez, “This is not a Small Voice,” is an emotional response from personal experience describing the sad and hardships faced in America during the 60’s and 70’s.
It was a very sad time, the 60’s and 70’s, because of how blacks were mistreated. It was a time where jazz music to folk culture became the Avant grade to black conscious. Jazz music reflected the libation of Malcolm X as an illusion on black culture. Jazz music reflected the rebellious and profound melody of how blacks were mistreated and underrepresented. Blues music was a sad and depressed expression on black culture. Amari Baraka, “The Cry of Jazz,” explored racial tensions in pursuit of his own racial identity.
The Black Arts Movement is an inspiration on popular culture, hip hop and rap. Because of the Black Arts Movement, the music artistic became an artistic expression written on themes such as race, education, sexism, drug use and spiritual uplifting. Hip hop music and Rap songs have motivated young people. Black lives matter like the L. A. riots of the 60’s, influenced artist to write about historical and political events. Baraka Amiri’s poem, “Black Art,” illustrates his anger about racial tensions. Hip Hop and Rap form of expression redefined the ideology of black culture in how blacks are perceived in America. Rap artist like, Busta Rhyme, N.W.A, and Public Enemy, wrote songs on racial tensions and social bias. The popularity of the movement has designated a cultural expression and cultural identity of Americans.
I would like to read you a poem written by Amiri Baraka. I chose this poem because Amiri Baraka legacy. I may have never had the opportunity to meet you, I never chance to say goodbye, but the memory of your legacy remains and has touched so many lives.