Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Voices That Must Be Heard" Articles Description An account of the resource The Independent Press Association (IPA) translates articles from the ethnic press (when necessary) and distributes them via web and fax newsletter to mainstream and ethnic press, government offices, nonprofits, and interested individuals. Voices That Must be Heard was designed by the Independent Press Association staff in New York City in response to the horrifying events of September 11. After Sept. 11th, Voices focused on the South Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern communities in New York. Since February 2002, the project has expanded, selecting articles from the broad range of ethnic and community newspapers throughout the city. Here, the Archive has preserved the Voices collection from its inception until November 2002. VTMBH Article VTMBH Article: Edition 37 VTMBH Article: Article Order 1 VTMBH Article: Title Poetic injustice VTMBH Article: Author Charles A. Brooks VTMBH Article: Publication Amsterdam News VTMBH Article: Original Language English VTMBH Article: Translator VTMBH Article: Section cpp VTMBH Article: Blurb Social activist and prolific poet/writer Amiri Baraka recently became the center of controversy since New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey asked Baraka to resign his position as poet laureate of New Jersey because of Barakas poem Somebody Blew Up America. VTMBH Article: Keywords VTMBH Article: Body Social activist and prolific poet/writer Amiri Baraka recently became the center of controversy since New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey asked Baraka to resign his position as poet laureate of New Jersey because of Barakas poem Somebody Blew Up America. The flare-up began after Baraka read the poem at the 2002 Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival at Waterloo Village in Stanhope on Sept. 19. The controversial portion reads: Who knew the World Trade Center was gonna get bombed/Who told 4,000 Israeli workers at the Twin Towers/To stay home that day/Why did Sharon stay away? After speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Newark Library in New Jersey, Baraka spoke with the Amsterdam News. They singled out a few lines, and for them to say that its anti-Semitic is incorrect. First-of-all, coming from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), its slander. Its a cover. They use the religion to cover their political ideology. Anytime you have an opinion that is independent of the ADL, youre cast as an anti-Semite. Its absurd, Baraka said. The governors spokesman, Kevin Davitt, said that the language used in Barakas poem could be interpreted as stating that Israelis were forewarned of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Mr. Baraka should clarify the intent of his language, apologize for any potential misinterpretation of his language and resign, Davitt said. The Anti-Defamation League immediately characterized Barakas criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic. ADL also maintains that Barakas poem suggests that Israel knew of the pending terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and warned 4,000 Israeli World Trade Center workers not to come to work that day, implying that Israel was somehow involved in the September 11th terrorist plot. The ADL characterized Barakas poem as a big lie. Its a great hypocrisy, and people know this, especially those in high places, because they dont want to be hounded in the same way that Im hounded now, Baraka said. In a letter written by William Davidson, ADL-New Jersey state chairman, and Charles Goldstein, ADLs regional director, to the governor, they said how pleased they were that the governor condemned Barakas remarks and urged him to resign. While typically ADL does not take the issue with the content of poetry or other forms of expression, no matter how repugnant, the fact that Mr. Baraka is the poet laureate of New Jersey and was introduced as such at a major New Jersey poetry festival attracting a large audience, brings his performance to a higher level of concern and spurs us to write you. The letter goes on to say: It may be that as a poet, Mr. Baraka may say what he chooses, no matter how ugly, irresponsible or deceptive. However, we dont believe that the residents of New Jersey, nor their representatives, should have such venom spewed in their name. Therefore, we are pleased that as governor of the state of New Jersey you condemn Amiri Barakas remarks and will urge him to consider resigning from his post as poet laureate of the state of New Jersey. However, the poemin its entiretyseems to suggest something different altogether. For example, throughout the poem, Baraka appears to contradict the American ideal by exposing several episodes, such as slavery, Jim Crow, assassinations, manifest destiny, racism, global oppression and genocide, through cynical yet engaging poetic verses. Baraka highlights these events by asking questions throughout the poem that begin with the word who. Baraka explained: The message of the poem was to show how Blacks were affected by terrorism. I mean, Blacks have been under terrorism since weve been here. Baraka continued, I also wanted to show the people who also suffered from terrorism all over the world. Kalamu ya Salaam, who is a poet, dramatist and music critic, told the AmNews he doesnt agree with the implication that Barakas poem is anti-Semitic. First of all, I dont accept the general catchphrase of anti-Semitism as a criticism of Israel. You can criticize Israel but not be anti-Semitic. Secondly, the poem is just thata poem. Its not a statement by a head of government. The poem only asks a questions. And if were afraid of questions, then were really in trouble, Salaam explained. A committee convened by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and the State Council on the Arts selected Baraka as poet laureate last month. He was given a proclamation and a two-year, $10,000 appointment to promote and encourage poetry. But Barakas title of poet laureate and the grant money cannot be withdrawn, and he cannot be removed from the position unless he decides to resign, which he steadfastly refuses to do. The governor does not have the power to remove Baraka because he did not appoint him to the post. VTMBH Article: Line Breaks 1 VTMBH Article: Date 2002-10-09 VTMBH Article: Thumb VTMBH Article: Article File VTMBH Article: Hit Count 109 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Poetic injustice 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. unknown Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. article Original Name The original name of this item. Social activist and prolific poet/writer Amiri Baraka recently became the center of controversy sinc Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-10-09