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Books
by Ras Baraka
Black Girls Learn Lover Hard /
In the Tradition: An Anthology of Young Black Writers
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Black Girls Learn Love Hard
By Ras Baraka
Reviews & Bio
Ras Baraka’s Black Girls Learn
Love Hard (Moore Black Press 2005) is more than a brother
mourning the loss of his sister; more than a father arming his
daughters with weapons of truth; more than a son lamenting the
struggle of his foremothers. Black Girls Learn Love Hard
is also more than Baraka’s first published collection of
poetry.
It is a critical look at a world that preys on women instead of
praising them, a thought provoking investigation into the social
and political issues that plague the African American community,
and a passionate tribute to the strength and resilience of Black
Girl Love.
Moore Black Press is honored to be publishing this touching,
powerful collection of work that pays homage to the life and
courageous spirit of Baraka’s younger sister Shani, and all
women who learn love hard.
In
Black Girls Learn
Love Hard, Baraka
questions the flaws in our thinking, but gives hope to a future
of love for Black Girls and a community healed by respect and
empowerment. Baraka says, "Love is a revolutionary ideal
and Black Girl Love epitomizes the reason that we have made it
thus far. And all of the Black women in my life that I have
loved, love, or that love me have been an intricate part of who
I am."
Released in August
2005, B Black Girls Learn
Love Hard features cover art by
renowned artist Renaldo Davidson.
—Moore
Black Press
Reviews
"These
poems are fighting to be free from the bondage of U.S.
imperialism. They are "Redemption Songs." —Amina
Baraka
"Some
singers like Ras Baraka speak and it is the lives of the people
we see, we hear, we feel." —Kalamu
Ya Salaam
"One of the finest of the new generation of poets. If you
think this is nepotism you are probably illiterate." —Amiri
Baraka
"We
Black girls do, yes, learn love hard but then, sometimes, there
are people, words, touches, that make the hard and the hurt fade
or at least shrink down into something we can manage. These
poems by ras do just that." Asha
Bandele, novelist,
poet, The Subtle Art of Breathing
"Ras Baraka's poetry does battle for the creation of a
human world." —Sonia
Sanchez, poet, teacher, activist
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Ras Baraka Bio
Growing up in Newark, NJ, Baraka says,
"What I write about I have witnessed. I always knew Black
Girls loved hard because they are triply oppressed because of
their gender, their nationality, and their class." As the
son of revered poet-activists Amina and Imamu Amiri Baraka,
activism and art have always been synonymous. "Poetry and
art is culture," says Baraka. "Art is activism. There
is no division for me with art and politics."
A graduate of Howard University, Baraka
received his degree in political science and history in 1991.
While a student he formed Black Nia F.O.R.C.E. (Freedom
Organization for Racial and Cultural Enlightenment) - a student
group at the forefront of campus political and social activism.
Baraka served as Assistant Youth Coordinator for the Commission
for Racial Justice, and traveled with G.E.T.B.U.S.Y. —a tour
of rappers and political activists who lectured at jails and
schools around the country.
In his junior year, Baraka successfully led
the 1989 historic student protest to remove Lee Atwater,
Chairman of the Republican National Committee, from the
university’s Board of Trustees. The following year, Baraka was
elected as Vice President of the Howard University Student
Government.
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Baraka ran for Newark's Mayoral position in 1994, garnering nine
percent of the vote—a significant task for the then 24 year old. In 1998, he
ran for Newark Councilman-at-Large and won the general election, but missed
in the run off election. In 2002, once again he ran for Councilman-at-Large
impressingly marshalling over 13,000 votes but again missing in the run-off.
His political leverage did not go unnoticed. On September 27, 2002, Ras was
sworn in to serve as Deputy Mayor for Newark Mayor, The Honorable Sharpe
James until October 31, 2005. On, November 2, Ras was voted by Newark’s
Municipal Council to serve out the remaining Councilman-at-large seat
vacated by the death of Councilman Donald K. Tucker.
photo left: Ras Baraka and
Barack Obama |
It is no surprise this vice principal of Weequahic High
School in Newark has been such an active participant in the politics and
culture of his native New Jersey.
As an artist, Baraka independently released his debut spoken word
CD, Shorty for Mayor, with the acclaimed single "Hot
Beverage in the Winter" featuring Grammy award winning
artist Lauryn Hill. Baraka also edited
In the Tradition with
Kevin Powell, and anthology of young Black poets and writers
(1991). He recently appeared on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry on
HBO, and is currently working on his second book of essays and
poem.
more on RasBaraka
How Ras Baraka Beat Oscar S. James II for [South Ward
Councilman]—Wednesday, May 12, 2010—James was
defeated by Ras Baraka, the man that James replaced four years ago.
New Jersey
posted 3 March 2006
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City of Newark 2010
Inauguration—Part 7—Ras Baraka Speech
On Thursday, July 1,
2010, the City of Newark inaugurated the Mayor and Municipal Council to new
four-year terms.
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Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All
By Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons knows firsthand that
wealth is rooted in much more than the
stock
market. True wealth has more to do with
what's in your heart than what's in your
wallet. Using this knowledge, Simmons
became one of America's shrewdest
entrepreneurs, achieving a level of
success that most investors only dream
about. No matter how much material gain
he accumulated, he never stopped lending
a hand to those less fortunate. In
Super Rich, Simmons uses his rare
blend of spiritual savvy and
street-smart wisdom to offer a new
definition of wealth-and share timeless
principles for developing an unshakable
sense of self that can weather any
financial storm. As Simmons says, "Happy
can make you money, but money can't make
you happy." |
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Hopes and Prospects
By Noam Chomsky
In this urgent new book, Noam Chomsky
surveys the dangers and prospects of our
early twenty-first century. Exploring
challenges such as the growing gap
between North and South, American
exceptionalism (including under
President Barack Obama), the fiascos of
Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S.-Israeli
assault on Gaza, and the recent
financial bailouts, he also sees hope
for the future and a way to move
forward—in the democratic wave in Latin
America and in the global solidarity
movements that suggest "real progress
toward freedom and justice." Hopes and
Prospects is essential reading for
anyone who is concerned about the
primary challenges still facing the
human race. "This is a classic Chomsky
work: a bonfire of myths and lies,
sophistries and delusions. Noam Chomsky
is an enduring inspiration all over the
world—to millions, I suspect—for the
simple reason that he is a truth-teller
on an epic scale. I salute him." —John
Pilger
In dissecting the rhetoric and logic of
American empire and class domination, at
home and abroad, Chomsky continues a
longstanding and crucial work of
elucidation and activism . . .the
writing remains unswervingly rational
and principled throughout, and lends
bracing impetus to the real alternatives
before us.—Publisher's
Weekly
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The White Masters of the
World
From
The World and Africa, 1965
By W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois’
Arraignment and Indictment of White Civilization
(Fletcher)
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Ancient African Nations
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Negro Digest /
Black World
Browse all issues
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Enjoy!
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The Death of Emmett Till by Bob Dylan
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The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
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Only a Pawn in Their Game
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Thanks America for
Slavery /
George Jackson /
Hurricane Carter
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The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg
The
Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804
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January 1, 1804 -- The Founding of
Haiti
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update
5 January 2012
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