April 2nd 2024.
Mayor Ras Baraka and his sister, historian Kellie Jones, are coming together to commemorate their late father's influential book, Blues People: Negro Music in White America. The book, written by renowned author and activist Amiri Baraka, holds a special place in the hearts of Ras and Kellie. In honor of their father's legacy, the two will be appearing at Express Newark, the center for art and design at Rutgers-Newark, on Wednesday, April 3. The event will celebrate the legendary status of Blues People and its impact on society.
Express Newark has been honoring Blues People with an exhibition of the same name, featuring the work of five artists and a series of events centered around the book's themes and the issues it addresses. And on April 3, Ras, who also happens to be the mayor of Newark, and Kellie, a MacArthur "Genius" fellow, Columbia University professor, and curator, will sit down for a chat moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Salamishah Tillet, who also serves as the executive director of Express Newark.
Tillet expressed her admiration for both Ras and Kellie, calling them "two of the most important and incisive voices on the role of art in promoting equity and justice in our society." She also emphasized their shared passion for using art to drive positive change in public spaces. Tillet feels privileged to be in conversation with two such brilliant individuals and believes that there is much to learn from their insights.
Blues People was one of the 50 books written by Amiri Baraka, who went by the name LeRoi Jones at the time, before his passing in 2014. Published in 1963, the book played a significant role in creating a cultural identity for Black Americans by tracing the evolution of Black music in the U.S. and its impact on the community. Supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation and Harborview Foundation, the upcoming chat will delve into the legacy of Blues People, with a special focus on the intersection of art and activism. It will also explore the significance of blues music and its role in addressing issues of class, race, and politics.
In addition to this event, there is another exciting book release in the works. John Hope Bryant, founder of Operation HOPE, will soon be releasing a new book on financial literacy, furthering his mission of promoting economic empowerment and financial inclusion. As Mayor Ras Baraka and Dr. Kellie Jones continue to honor their father's legacy through their work, John Hope Bryant's upcoming book serves as another example of individuals using their skills and platforms to make a positive impact on society.
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