Amiri Baraka "Somebody Blew Up America"

[@TheThriftShopSampler]

What's brilliant about this piece is that, it sounds as if Baraka is asking a question…when really he's explaining the answer.

[@urieladen8242]

pro tip: watch movies on Flixzone. Been using it for watching a lot of movies recently.

[@adrianleandro4315]

@Uriel Aden yup, have been using Flixzone for months myself =)

[@kinkyyogi]

GENIUS!!!

[@jamesjohnson2394]

It's stunning... Who? Who? Who? The white capitalist comes to mind

[@samueljanssen62]

@@jamesjohnson2394 satan he uses who he does(listen closely) repent and believe on Jest he died buried and resurrected for you so you might be saved if you believe on him

[@janaiajoy]

A miraculous flow of imperialistic truths and a defiance to our collective colonial masters. A masterpiece!!! Couldn’t be more relevant today. Bravo

[@Kellogs43able]

i met amiri in 1991 when i was a student at lsu..i had only been writing poetry for a couple of years and i had wrote a poem about the first iraq war and got it published in the school newspaper. the day it came out amiri gave a poetry reading at my schoo, which a workshop followed. he told me he saw my poem and liked it. the main reason why i became a poet was this man. and i'm still writing after 23 years

[@Graciana529]

R.I.P. AMIRI BARAKA YOUR POETRY AND POWERFUL WORDS WILL LIVE FOREVER IN MY HEART.

[@BlackMusicGenre]

"Who owns what ain't known to be own" That's one of the deepest funniest lines in this poem , but very true indeed .

[@NeasTube]

I needed your words again today. Rest in peace brother. We carry on in this war, knowing WHO the devil is and not quite fighting back yet but getting close. The pot will boil over. The devil will have his day.

[@empeearr7058]

this is more pertinent now more than ever it seems. rest in peace Amiri Baraka

[@youremybiggestfan]

Just because you opened your eyes doesn't mean what you see is new.

[@Freegameteachings]

Yup

[@vidachusma6890]

tito, right. this ain't schrodinger's gato. we know what it is.

[@insiyang6174]

Yup

[@hermenutic]

This is a wonderful poem. The poet looks behind the curtain and reports back on what he has seen. It is called in biblical terms, a vision.

[@lynnmarie1334]

People always have had visions

[@aloniajoyner1380]

7. 2023 Supreme Court said affirmative action got to go. Prophetic 😢

[@chillebony8863]

HE WAS A GREAT BROTHER. CONCIOUS EDUCATED . A EXTREMELY TALENTED BLACK RENAISSANCE POET . HE STOOD UP FOR OUR POC. RESPECT TO THE KING OF NJ !

[@alwagner9722]

Hope some of your friends and family are woke to the truth spoken here. I'm from philly btw. Some people don't want to hear it unfortunately

[@garrisoncondon4340]

Who’s here in 2024?

[@tandyjen]

Who? we're all here

[@kvseverallevels6928]

2025

[@jollyrott3nn]

I'm so glad he came to my college and I got to meet him when I was 18, I wish I still had the book he gave me, but I don't think I understood his impact back then.

[@rosalynngray6919]

I know that is a moment you will never forget.

[@salahudinrahim1367]

Jolly Rotten JR you are wasting your time wishing. Follow him become a poet. write your own book and slay them with rhythmic wisdom. Become Amiri Baraka. Our brother lives. Forever!

[@capoislamort100]

R.I.P the greatest of the original beatnik poets, he was outspoken and never compromised...a true revolutionary poet

[@califiasrevenge77]

this KING! gone, but never ever forgotten! AMIRI BARAKA

[@BrandonFreels]

One of the best poems of our time.

[@MasterFreespirit]

I can't believe he got in trouble for this. It's just poetry.... his perspective on the world. It's art. It's beautiful.

[@flynimaboy]

I guess it goes beyond poetry. it is not just poetry. it is the truth apparently.

[@ANGLAISLITVINE]

*ucking conspiracy theory -there's why. How about black cops murdering black guys? How about African chiefs hunting out their won to sell them off to white slavers? Not so simple.

[@ruksar_khan247]

in the end if you did not clap, you did not understand and wow the poet

[@arzinia]

Rest in power!!!..Indeed !!!..Woke me....Showed me!!..Sad!! Heavy, like getting hurt!!..

[@aminabouguessa2907]

Respect from Algeria, your works will always be in my mind

[@stephaniedavis4606]

Preach Sir Amiri!! Thank goodness he left us with such a prolific and profound category of TRUTH!!

[@theactualtodd]

I met and shook his hand at the Geraldine Dodge Festival in 2010. His reading of this poem there is still etched in my memory.

[@sophisticated1920]

May he rest in TRUTH and LOVE along w/ all the other ancestors. Peace Baraka, peace.

[@kwameaboagye-cl9me]

Baba Amiri Baraka my all time favourite poet and totally politically self-conscious. Baba Baraka is my inspier and hero. Ase Baba Amiri Baraka and the Scottsboro Nine.

[@roguenyt11]

Amiri (Imamu) Baraka you're an inspiration like no other. You will live on in our minds, spirits, and hearts...an eternity!

[@robertmalin3244]

I grew up in Newark and remember live sessions like this on the radio.

[@HakamasMaximus]

A huge loss to us all! What a great man and poet! Peace!

[@MrEMT4466]

I'LL NEVER FORGET BARAKA!!!!!! MAY HE REST IN PEACE!!!!!!!!

[@africanfromafrica]

I remember the words of brother Marley: "How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand across and look?"

[@Blacklilo17]

we had to listen to this poem in school..this is the strongest poem I have ever heard.

[@TheMediaAnarchist]

I pray that the next generation will pick up where this visionary of a man left off. Thank you for loving Jerz. #Baraka

[@simoneymone89]

One can only hope if we put down the remote & turn off Love & Hip Hop..one could only hope.

[@myorangecrush]

One of my favorite pieces from Amiri Baraka. I still remember this from Grad School.

[@stephanomarr6829]

ONE of the Brightest, greatest talents of MY GENERATION, & BEHOND.....PS SIP in the AFTERLIFE....

[@HansRoy]

You will be missed my brother, you will never be too far! Thank you so much for being you!~~

[@svendbosanvovski4241]

Wow, what force of words rattle the rafters with this string of pearls. He summarized the essence of the sickness in nine and a half minutes.

[@samueljackson4568]

Wise words spoken by a wise man.

[@yaminbakht5292]

A powerful poem eloquently rendered by an elegant man, accompanied by an accomplished saxophonist!

[@DavidAMarin]

timeless poems you wish wouldn't be timeless... forever onwards, brave soul, a true fighter against opression

[@nickjay45]

Loved this man! Just heard about this poem and I'm so glad for KZbin giving me the opportunity to witness Baraka performing it. What an artistic, political powerhouse...May he rest in peace.

[@Anamolouslou]

Still in 2024. In fact, even more so.

[@blackgold1980]

A great speech from a great man. RIP Amiri

[@MDplaful]

Rest in Power Amiri Baraka

[@MrEMT4466]

WOW POWERFUL! THANKS!

[@deedeehalleck]

Thank you, folks at the Sanctuary, for doing such a fine job of recording this historic poet and poem. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@rosalynngray6919]

OMG this made me just sit and wonder.....

[@PartlyKloudy]

the greatest poet alive.

[@HakiKweliShakur]

Man Who Who who long live New Afrikan Imamu Amiri Baraka Dammm it !!! Struggle Forward!!!

[@RawItalVitalVegitarI]

ASE', ASE', ASE'!!!

[@vadenbovell527]

I was just listening to this in my writing thru literature class at Laguardia CC

[@jasonsellers6025]

God bless this truth!!!!

[@teamcrumb]

+Jason Sellers yesssss

[@BernardHoyessyncona]

One of the Highlights of my residence in Downtown L.A. in the 70's was having Brother Amiri come to my Studio opening and Read. That night Ojenke, Kamau, and K.Curtis Lyle read blowing up the Space, it was one for the ages.

[@thirdshift47]

RIP To an American cultural heavyweight and true African warrior that spit on black liberal political correctness.You will be missed,brotha. The struggle continues...

[@xalilala]

This guy's one of very few who actually KNOWS who did all this :) Love love love him!

[@epicepic2147]

He was a great poet.

[@iamladyceecee]

A Legend, A Poet, A Advocate who will be missed. RIP!

[@Gestureye7x]

His poetry will live forever, this is such a beautiful piece of wonder! :) I love the sax with it! :)

[@jansteinvonsquidmeirsteen2256]

Speak!!!!!!!! Preach!!!!

[@DJETU]

My dear Brother Amiri Baraka, You will be missed on this Earth. Thanks for everything you did to elevate Humankind, for speaking the truth. Thanks. Rest in Peace.

[@5hineepropertyofleetaemin]

Asking the right questions 🧐 rhetorical or not

[@chillebony4381]

This golden word will always be in our spirit everyday This man was more than Great Great Amiri look over us we will continue to listen and Hear more thank you

[@OTheArchitect]

This is amazing!!

[@Emmetl43]

I can't believe people think that this is a poem about anti semitism! Amiri baraka is an absolute genius! I love him! From a first year college student who is delighted he's studying English!

[@ZeraNYC]

So powerful... thank you for this timeless material.

[@SassyVonCutieBoots1]

Thank you, ancestor Amiri.

[@blackindianboy]

Thank you for sharing your heart, your powerful poetic gift & your uncompromising courage RIP Amiri Baraka

[@ximilixaca]

This is indeed the truth presented eloquently through the grace of God

[@Ambaye45]

Wow! Powerful. It stirred something in me.

[@lakiba]

Rest in Paradise teacher poet ...

[@RealAlexStoia]

I really liked this video because of the way it was performed but mainly because the poem itself. It is extremely moving to hear somebody speak like this when most people wouldn't dare to. I feel like personally i do not know enough about the things he is talking about to have my own full opinion, but i do know that their are some thing i agree with and some i disagree with which to me makes the video even more interesting. - Stoia

[@clumsiii]

beautiful - i'm just learning about Amiri now - what a gift it must have been to be present when he spoke rip

[@voteeffevansfinancialfreed190]

happy soul day, legend, phenomenal work,,,, this poem has so much information, those with inquisitive minds will end up reading a lot of books referenced by it,,, from anything by Harriet A Washington to Dorothy E Roberts to Nancy Turner Banks,,,, from King Leopold's ghost to Biko's i write what i like,,,

[@DocsDryLilly]

wow, some of these comments are really something :P This poem is very powerful. You can hear the passion in Baraka's voice as he is trying to find someone to take the blame for all the terrible things that have happened in America. I like how he exposes this country and goes against the image of compassionate, free America. This poem really makes you think and want to question American leadership. Also, love the saxophone. -Emily M.

[@hysimmbrackett2993]

This is a master piece. Magnificent!

[@kasfit.7916]

Brotha be well on your peaceful journey....you were and forever will be warm inspiration

[@ericdecker2914]

Burn it down, Brother Amiri. ✊🏼

[@rickbishop5987]

The truth & riffing on Monk. Perfect...

[@Ekowakenyatta]

The ancestors are now rejoicing...thank you my brother.

[@MangoSlade.]

9-11-2022!!! You will not forget and neither shall we!

[@raxmarrone]

Every time I watch this I pick up on something new

[@Emmy1417]

I'm seeing a pattern with the instruments and the poetry. I think it's a common element in poetry when people want to present a certain feeling to their poems. Usually it's drums, but this brings a more "jazzy" feel to the poem; maybe even blues. I'm not entirely certain on the differences between the two.-Emmy C.

[@drbekken]

Long Live Amiri Baraka!

[@jeromepeterson7150]

Beyond Brilliant! Rest Easy Brother!

[@chanteljnai6728]

one of my favorite poems...my inspiration.

[@Kreln1221]

Powerful. Profound. Brutally blunt...

[@MariamManoukyanhappy]

Yesterday was the April 24th, 105 years ago that day started the Armenian Genocide... Thank you for mentioning one of the truths behind the "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE". With Love to you, Amiri, thanks for the truth you tell about this messed up Earth..

[@duaneanderson2065]

this guy is on point. reactionary accusations that are propelled by guilt are only reveal the authors fear. I know that Amiri is not talking about me. Until my white brother and sister cop to our collective responsibility and can hear and tell the truth you will rage and shiver with guilt and self recrimination..

[@brentonebron5009]

I salute you sir

[@simaniye]

spot on.

[@KennethKetchum]

Right on my white brother. Now we call you brother.

[@idrisnewton4552]

Fake

[@tinotendabrandonduma8033]

I live in a country which was once a British colony, and although you have a point it still stands that the white man put down the black man(oversimplification), America is the only country in human history to ever use nuclear weapons on a country.....talk about diplomacy? isis also one of america's problem how many countless people killed because of this so called "holy war"? mass graves in my country "gukurahunde" its also shocking that black on black crimes are higher than white on black to me this is somewhat odd, i then get back to one of your points "Why should only whites cop to these" no matter how we want to look at it, the white man really messed up especially slavery but then again in africa before the white man came the arabs were already taking black people as slaves....will it ever end?. i take it you are a neutral which is good, yes white people have played a great role in stamping out slavery..but they also committed great crimes NOW my question is WHY SLAVERY IN THE FIRST PLACE?but at the end of the day i believe that as the human race we must advance as one collective mind i believe thats the only way to progress forward...

[@ibeJomes]

Like the Cortez video, an instrument is used as well. I believe that Baraka's poem has a fierce, if I may say, feeling to it. His tone is so strong, and it feels like he is giving a speech and is trying to get a point across to people. The sax created an atmosphere as if you were in a bar or place where there was like an open mic event and people were reading their works. This was a very interesting video, that puts me in a jazzy or blues type of atmosphere. -James

[@326Ka]

i love amirri baracka great man i love this man truth is truth love it

[@hhmil54]

POWERFUL!

[@jessewjames-ym1rc]

I often read his poems on anthologies of: beat generation (wtf?) and New York poets (and he was from NJ)... but thanks to beats and NewYorkers for made me know this great author. Gonna start soon a book of short stories ordered by Canada

[@youremybiggestfan]

man ive been a fan half my life and im a hispanic man in his 30s..

[@olumuyiwalafe7768]

God Bless your fine soul, my Brother

[@WayneBoucaud]

Genius...

[@joecoool100]

My goose bumps always tell me when I hear the truth......

[@halimacandy]

Rest in POWER. .!!!Excellent!

[@paradiddle1]

Here on the day Dick Gregory died. Seems only fitting. RIP gentlemen! The world is in dire need of your voice and courage.

[@FifaSir]

Amazing...Rest in Power

[@EllaBoadu]

Just found out about Baraka love his words

[@gma904]

Who will take over where this man left off? RIP Amiri Baraka.

[@droppngemzz1102]

The goatttt

[@ogosha]

Rest in POWER sire. We salute you!

[@TheWHARPS]

DAMN! that was intense.

[@Gunnabee]

reminds me of that great poem by ortiz, a moment of silence..