Amiri Baraka "Obama Poem"

"Obama Poem" by Amiri Baraka with Rob Brown-saxophone, recorded live on February 21, 2009 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy NY.

The poet icon and political activist Amiri Baraka performs with Rob Brown, an eloquent and versatile saxophonist with a deep knowledge of jazz, in a reading from his book "Somebody Blew Up America & Other Poems."

This production is part of "Free Jazz at the Sanctuary," a 13-part series of performance videos featuring some of the world's most talented improvisers. Each hour-long show is available on DVD directly from Downtown Music Gallery (www.downtownmusicgallery.com). For more information on this series, visit www.JazzSanctuary.org

The complete series consists of performances by:

The Thirteenth Assembly (Taylor Ho Bynum, Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Jessica Pavone)

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (Kahil El'Zabar, Ernest Dawkins, Corey Wilkes)

From Between Trio (Michel Doneda, Tatsuya Nakatani, Jack Wright)

Michael Vlatkovich Quartet (Christopher Garcia, Jonathan Golove, David Mott, Michael Vlatkovich)

Sax Soup Poetry and Voice (Joe Giardullo, Pierre Joris, Nicole Peyrafitte)

Trio Tarana (Sam Bardfeld, Ravish Momin, Brian Prunka)

The Ras Ensemble (Clif Jackson, Dave Miller, Ras Moshe, Tor Yochai Snyder)

William Hooker

Empty Cage Quartet (Ivan Johnson, Paul Kikuchi, Jason Mears, Kris Tiner)

Weasel Walter Trio (Peter Evans, Mary Halvorson, Weasel Walter)

Splatto Festival Chorus (Dave Barrett, Michael Bisio, Ed Mann, Todd Reynolds)

Amiri Baraka and Rob Brown

Fay Victor Ensemble (Ken Filiano, Anders Nilsson, Michael TA Thompson, Fay Victor)

"Free Jazz from the Sanctuary" is a co-production of NY Media Alliance and the Arts Department at Rensselaer, made possible in part with support from the NYS Council on the Arts and the NYS Music Fund, established by the NYS Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers.

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[ktwheels44]

This comment section exemplifies the fundamental problem with youtube. This poem is about a colossal achievement by a talented African American--one poet accompanied by one musician--it is a positive reflection on the past (Lester Young) and the present (Prez Obama.) All this positivity is destined to be destroyed by some TROLL who turns it into a race war. If we bombard this video with positive comments the TROLL will disappear. Peace/Love/Knowledge!

[326Ka]

the great amiri baracka love him

[sandyssanders]

Poor Amiri Baraka...he really didn't do his homework on Barack O.....the chocolate-dipped white guy born of CIA parents, raised in private schools, worked for Business International Corporation (the CIA) after leaving the university system. Some people just want to believe in Santa Claus.

[pungy1000]

Actually you dumb ass cracker the U.S. does hold people... If they don't, than why do blacks have to ask permission to go back home to our country inwhich your forefathers stole and looted us from???? Passport,Licenses, and all of this other crap they have come up with.. You probably are a working class meth smoking, cousin fucking, Hitler loving, dumb ass cracker that is too stupid to even realize that you are a white slave.... Dumb ass!

[jimmysudar]

i'm a little surprised at the obviousness of the rhymes, the structure and the ideas of the poem; it's a little high school. i expected more.

[ARepublicanVictory]

@ktwheels44 Well USA does not hold people. You can leave at any time if you feel soooo oppressed in the USA. Black racism, ignorance and stupidity is the real problem here.

[ktwheels44]

Unfortunately there is only one person laughing out loud. The rest of us are praying for peace love and understanding... ooohhh... what's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding...?

[ktwheels44]

lost; misdirected; they ain't who they is;

blind like in Spanish cannot see see see, as if race was a waste--it is;

you think you could survive amongst this hostile tribe;

What's happening Prez!