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Amiri Baraka was born on October 7, 1934, in Newark, New Jersey. -
The Second World War takes place, impacting the lives of many Americans, including Baraka's family and community.
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Baraka changed his name to LeRoi James while attending Howard University, where he studied poetry and jazz after becoming interested in both during high school. It was in 1954 that he graduated with a degree in English.
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After earning his degree he went straight into the Air Force. Imamu served for about three years. -
After three years of service, Baraka received a dishonorable discharge for owning inappropriate texts. Looking for a fresh start Baraka moved to Greenwich Village, New York City, where, in addition to attending Columbia University and The New School, he became involved in the Beat movement. -
This is the year Amiri Baraka gets married to his first wife Hettie Cohen. -
His first daughter is born! They named her, Kellie Jones. -
Baraka released Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note, his first significant collection of poems. -
Lisa Victoria Chapman Jones born August 15, 1961. She later became an American playwright, essayist, journalist, and memoirist. -
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom takes place, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, influencing Baraka's views on civil rights and activism. -
Malcolm X is assassinated, leading to a shift in Baraka's political and ideological beliefs towards Black nationalism and cultural revolution. -
Sylvia Robinson, Baraka's second wife, became Amina Baraka when they were married. The pair would create Spirit House, a playhouse and artist's residence located near Newark. -
Baraka publishes his influential "Black Art" manifesto, calling for a revolutionary art form that reflects the struggles and aspirations of African Americans. -
Baraka establishes the African-American Studies Program at Stony Brook University, reflecting his commitment to promoting Black culture and history. -
Baraka performs "A Black Mass" at Yale University, a controversial work that leads to his arrest on charges of obscenity. -
Baraka converted to Islam and gave his name the prefix Imamu, which means "spiritual leader". But he removed the prefix and identified as a Marxist in 1974. -
Baraka's play "The Slave" premieres, highlighting themes of slavery, oppression, and liberation in American history. -
A film adaptation of Baraka's play "Dutchman" is released, further cementing his reputation as a leading figure in African-American literature and theater. -
Baraka founds the African American Culture Center in Newark, New Jersey, as a hub for artistic and cultural expression. -
Baraka is appointed Poet Laureate of New Jersey, a position he holds for a year. -
Baraka sparks controversy with his poem "Somebody Blew Up America," which addresses the September 11 attacks and suggests a conspiracy. -
Amiri Baraka passes away on January 9, 2014, in Newark, New Jersey, leaving behind a legacy as a poet, playwright, and influential figure in African American literature and culture.