A Nation Within a Nation

by Komozi Woodard

Examines Amiri Baraka's cultural approach to Black Power politics and explores his role in the spread of black nationalism in the urban centers of the late 20th-century America.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, Cultural, American History, Biography

354 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 1999

Reviews

[Lawrence Grandpre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The academic/historiographic ghettoization of Amiri Baraka into the category of "Black Artist" and "Black Arts Movement" was a good strategic move. If folks read this work they would understand how his work was tied to people in material struggle and just what an extensive impact the organizing he engaged in with others in Newark is a blueprint for struggle that others should learn from. It also is a lesson in the limitations of muti-racial coalitions, when the work is genuinely led by Black folks, reciprocity in terms of interracial support is lacking. The white unions being unwilling to cross the picket line for white unions protesting the Kawaida towers project but WILLING to cross a black unions picket line of proposed (gentrifying) public health construction in Newark should be an example taught to Black organizers nationwide. Moreover, the failure of elected officials supported by CAP to support tax abatement for nonprofit housing development by them but willing to support it for others should be read as the white nonprofit industrial complex selling out grassroots black people and using black elected officials as a face of white power. That is gets read as "black elected officials supported by the black community are worthless sellouts and only interracial/ class centered organizing can solve this" is a horrible misread that ignores the racism of the unions and the white left. I've told myself to not be surprised by stuff like this, but I am a bit surprising this book has received such luke warm reviews on this site. If you have no context for Black Nationalist/Pan Africanist community organizing I guess maybe it feels random, you have no sense for what is at stake because failure is assumed, but those seeking to genuinely engage with this literature will do well to read this book to discover the specific conditions behind these movements doing what they did and what we can learn from them.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive description of who Amiri Baraka is and his influence. If you are into history and the development of the Black Power movement, this book will expand your understanding of the topic. The language usage is eloquent and also user-friendly enough for those of us who may just be learning about Amiri Baraka and the Black Power movement. This is a highly recommended book!