Amiri Baraka

Poet, writer, and scholar Amiri Baraka passed away on Thursday at the age of 79.  Among Baraka’s many contributions to both the U.S. and the world are his works on African-American music.  His earliest book on the subject, Blues People: Negro Music in White America, argues for recognizing how deeply important music has been to African-American culture throughout U.S. history.

The above clip features Baraka reading his poem “Something In The Way Of Things (In Town)” to a saxophone line played by Rob Brown.  It is one of many clips available that highlight Baraka’s combination of poetry and music.