Amiri Baraka hits a new low

Washington Times ^ | Friday, October 11, 2002 | By Ward Connerly

[JohnHuang2]

It's not every day that one gets immortalized along with Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell in a poem, especially a poem penned by the New Jersey poet laureate. But I think I'll have to pass on this "honor" after reading it and learning the poet is Amiri Baraka (the poet formerly known as LeRoi Jones), one of America's premier haters and anti-Semites.

[JohnHuang2]

Friday, October 11, 2002

Quote of the Day by roses of sharon

[etcetera]

His poetry sucks bigtime. Which doesn't speak well for the guy who appointed him.

[joebuck]

This is life imitating art. Remember the Eddie Murphy Sat. Night Live skit a few years back where he played the serious jailhouse "poet"?

The dog he bark
Do he bite?
Kill my landlord.
Kill my landlord.

The only difference between Murphy's gag and the poet Laureate is that Murphy's poetry was probably a little better.

[dennisw]

The DemRatHacks who run New Jersey appointed Leroy Jones (his real name) to throw a bone to the black voters. That's all they cared about at the time.

Could be they broke new ground by appointing the first black man as state poet laureate.

[WileyC]

The only difference between Murphy's gag and the poet Laureate is that Murphy's poetry was probably a little better.

Ha! I was hoping someone would quote Eddie here. I didn't have the quote on hand (and have a notably poor memory where such trivia is concerned). Thanks for a smile!

[rhema]

Now there's a first: an illiterate poet laureate. Sic transit . . .

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Baraka is NOT a poet. He barely rises to the level of hip-hop rapper.