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Amiri Baraka’s primary goals as Poet Laureate of New Jersey are, as the
state defines them, “to promote and encourage poetry,” then he has certainly
done his duty. After just a few short months on the job, his latest poem,
“Somebody Blew Up America,” has caused a small media frenzy and spurred New
Jersey Governor James McGreevey to ask, unsuccessfully, for Baraka’s
resignation. The poem’s infamy stems from lines that suggest both Israel and
America knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks before they happened.
“Who knew the World Trade Center was gonna get
bombed
Who told 4000 Israeli workers at the Twin Towers
To stay home that day
Why did Sharon stay away?”
Now,
thousands of people who probably didn’t even know that many states have a
Poet Laureate know about Baraka. However, the public has learned much more
than that poets exist. The big lesson here is that Poet Laureates must
represent their state government and cannot assert a voice of dissention
without stiff consequences.
As a
scholar of African-American literature and fan of Baraka’s unique literary
antics, this is a difficult lesson for me to swallow. McGreevey’s reaction
goes against all of the literary freedoms that America stands for, but this
is not a simple censorship issue, it is also a question of the role of the
Poet Laureate. McGreevey assumes that Poet Laureates must reflect the views
of their benefactors.
Sadly, I
believe that McGreevey’s response is a result of the post-9/11 anxiety
towards not only outright anti-American sentiments, but also constructive
critiques of American policies. In pre-9/11, Baraka’s poem would have been
lauded for its skillful examination of America’s imperialist tendencies.
Now, he must be reprimanded for these critiques, lest they punch holes in
the unified, unwavering front against terrorism, or, God forbid, people
think McGreevey supports Baraka’s views since he is the chosen Poet
Laureate. Don’t worry McGreevey, it would be near impossible to conflate
your opinions with Baraka’s under any circumstances.
I believe
we must stop this backlash against dissenting opinions before we find
ourselves loosing all the free-speech ground we have gained. Towards this
end, let’s embrace the dialogue that Baraka’s poem initiates. Few McGreevey
supporters have even mentioned the poem’s literary merit or poetic
structure. In his poem, Baraka uses the question as a way to provoke readers
to figure out the answers, and thus decide the meaning of the poem.
“Who own the mine
Who twist your mind
Who got bread
Who need peace
Who you think need war”
While it
is clear from some passages that he thinks the answer is often America, or
its allies, readers have room to contemplate and determine their own,
completely different responses. What could be more democratic? Instead of
condemning what Baraka wrote, we should, in fact, celebrate its very
American ability to question the current political paradigm and to
ultimately question America.
Sallie A. Hirsch is a
freelance writer based in New York City.