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Amiri Baraka Quotes

Writer

Amiri Baraka, born Leroy Jones, was an American writer, poet, playwright, political activist, and music critic. His work spanned poetry, novels, plays, and music criticism, and had a profound impact on American literature and black culture.

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All People Art Black Men World Art Is America Black People Poem Poetry Thinking White American Life Artist Class Consciousness Death Evil Eye Freedom

Famous Amiri Baraka Quotes

“The films of Warhol, when they are about anything are about sucking people off. This can be high art, to people who are interested in sucking people off. But that will not liberate Black people.”

People Art Film Black Black People Warhol High Art

Book:Raise, Race, Rays, Raze: Essays Since 1965

Source: Raise, Race, Rays, Raze: Essays Since 1965

“Back home the black women are all beautiful”

Home Beautiful Black Race Beauty Black Women Back Home

Book:Black Magic: Sabotage, Target Study, Black Art: Collected Poetry, 1961-1967

Source: Black Magic: Sabotage, Target Study, Black Art: Collected Poetry, 1961-1967

“In America, black is a country.”

Country America Black Racism

Book:Home: Social Essays

Source: Home: Social Essays

“Atheist Jews double crossers stole our [black people’s] secrets. . . . They give us to worship a dead Jew and not ourselves . . . . Selling fried potatoes and people, the little arty bastards talking arithmetic they sucked from the arab’s head.”

People Giving Littles Black Secret Talking Worship Atheist Jew Selling Black People Potatoes Arithmetic

Author:Amiri Baraka

“When I die, the consciousness I carry I will to black people. May they pick me apart and take the useful parts, the sweet meat of my feelings. And leave the bitter bullshit rotten white parts alone.”

People May Feelings Dies Black White Consciousness Sweet Picks Bitter Meat Black People Bullshit Rotten Pick Me

Author:Amiri Baraka

“If you are black, the only roads into the mainland of American life are through subservience, cowardice, and loss of manhood. These are the white man's roads.”

Ifs Men Black Loss White African American Cowardice Manhood White Man American Life Subservience

Author:Amiri Baraka

About the Author

Born: October 7, 1934
Died: January 9, 2014
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 54

Books & Sources

Home: Social EssaysRelated source material

S O S: Poems 1961-2013Related source material

Black Magic: Sabotage, Target Study, Black Art: Collected Poetry, 1961-1967Related source material

Three books by Imamu Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones).Related source material

Daggers and javelins: essays, 1974-1979Related source material

Digging: The Afro-American Soul of American Classical MusicRelated source material

Raise, Race, Rays, Raze: Essays Since 1965Related source material

Selected poetry of Amiri Baraka/LeRoi JonesRelated source material

Somebody Blew Up America and Other PoemsRelated source material

System of Dante's HellRelated source material

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