Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast Honoring MLK's Legacy and the Transition of Imamu Amiri Baraka

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, addressing retirees, workers and community activists in downtown Detroit outside the federal bankruptcy court on Friday Aug. 2, 2013., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

For Immediate Release

Media Advisory
Monday January 20, 2014

Pan-African Journal: Special Worldwide Radio Broadcast on MLK's Legacy and the Passing of Imamu Amiri Baraka---Sunday January 19, 2014, Hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe With Guest Norman Otis Richmond of Toronto

To listen to this broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, just click on the website below:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/panafricanjournal/2014/01/19/pan-african-journal-special-worldwide-radio-broadcast

We continue our tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 85th anniversary of his birth. In this broadcast we focus on King's opposition to the War in Vietnam and his linking of the anti-war struggle with the efforts aimed at the eradication of poverty.

In the second half of the program we pay tribute as well to the life and times of Imamu Amiri Baraka, the poet, essayist, playwright and political activist who made his transition recently. Baraka was a phenomena in regard to the personality and body of intellectual and cultural work he projected onto the public stage.

Our special guest is bluesologist Norman Otis Richmond of Toronto who met and knew Baraka since the days of his youth in Southern California during the 1960s where Baraka would travel from Newark, New Jersey, his home. The intersection between Baraka, formerly known as Leroi Jones, and Dr. King took place in 1968 when the Civil Rights leader adopted the "Black Is Beautiful" slogan emanating from the African American communities.

The discussion between Richmond and Azikiwe reviewed the cultural and political changes Baraka went through during his life journeys of the 1960s and 1970s. The history of the Dutchman theater work, the Spirit House, the Congress of African People were reviewed and analyzed.

Azikiwe and Richmond have done joint broadcasts for the last twelve years. There collaboration began over CKLN.FM in Toronto during 2002.