In honor of the late, great poet, activist, husband, and father Amiri Baraka, the month of October has been deemed Poetry Month here in Newark by Mayor Ras J. Baraka. Executive Director Gwen Moten of the Office of Arts, Cultural Development and Tourism, and other dignitaries launched Newark Poetry Month with a ceremony on Tuesday, October 7th, in the City Hall First Floor Rotunda.
At the ceremony, 95-year-old Newark poet Eddie Mae Livingston was honored for her lifetime of achievement, and the late Amiri Baraka was also honored on what would have been his 80th birthday. There were poetry readings at the ceremony by Mayor Baraka, as well as other dignitaries and local Newark poets. The State Assembly, Senate, as well as the American Poetry Theater is supporting the initiative.
A calendar of poetry events for the month of October can be found on the City of Newark website.
