Beat poet and activist Amiri Baraka died on Thursday. He was 79 years old. Baraka died peacefully in hospital in New Jersey, surrounded by his family. A leading poet of the beat generation, Amiri Baraka was associates with seminal poets such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. His first poetry collection, published in 1961 to a polarised critical reception, and he was one of the most respected black poets of his generation.
Baraka was made poet laureate of New Jersey, was stripped of the title and caused controversey with a public reading of his poem "Somebody Blew Up America?" in 2001 about the 9/11 attacks. This brought huge negative attention to the poet, as well as his poetry for the cover depictions of erect penises, which were often put on prominent display in Greenich Village cafes.
Baraka has often attracted criticism for his seeming advocacy of rape and violence against women and gays, which has been said to contend with his own efforts to hide same-sex relations in his past.
His book 'Blues People: Negro Music in White America' is considered widely to be the first complete history of black music to be written by an African-American.
The poet leaves behind a controversial but inspiring body of work, including novels, plays and poetry.
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