Goodbye Amiri

Saying goodbye to you is hard, I ain't about to lie. While I've not read a lot of your work, shameful I know, I have admired you and thought of you as a member of my family and a mentor. Your outspokenness and fearlessness to tell it like it was was something that always inspired me to do the same. This goodbye is gonna suck.

So I won't say goodbye, I'll move this into one of those "see you soon" kind of things. That feels better than a goodbye so that's what I'll run with. Your passing won't have the same effect on me that Malcolm's assassination had on you, but just like his passing moved you in such profound ways, your passing will leave a large void in my life.

People should be celebrating your life and dancing outside of your house like South Africans did in front of Madiba's when he passed. Finding out about you and learning of your works should be taught in EVERY school across the land, yes even your more controversial works and opinions.

I will miss you Everett LeRoi Jones. I will miss knowing you are out there, watching us, and knowing that if we displease you that you won't hesitate to tell us about ourselves in creative yet searing ways. I will miss you Imamu Amiri Baraka but you have earned your rest. You have fought the good fight and left behind an untouchable legacy. I thank you for that in ways I cannot put into words. Rest in peace sir.