Musical History

Poet retells past in poems

In a completely darkened Rackham theater last night, figures dressed in all black invited the audience to enter into a world of poetry and jazz. Amiri Baraka, a poet and black activist, and performance group Blue Ark: The World Ship performed "Black History Music."

"Africa ... go back," Baraka said as he opened his performance, which encompassed black history from the time of slavery to present times.

NATHAN RUFFER/Daily ABOVE: Baraka performs a poem at Rackham Auditorium last night.

"This is more than just a performance, it's like reliving part of an experience," said LSA sophomore Erin Gilbert, who is the Black Student Union's academic and professional chair.

BSU sponsored the event, along with the Black Volunteer Network, the Center for African and Afro-American Studies and the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives.

Blue Ark utilized a combination of blues, jazz, gospel and theatrics to enhance and accompany Baraka's spoken and sung words that included some haiku poetry.

"One thing about doing poetry and jazz together is I think it makes it easier for the audience to take in the poetry," said English Prof. Richard Tillinghast, who attended the event. "The music helped deliver the message to the crowd."

Baraka and Blue Ark described their performance style - a mixture of different arts - as Funklore.

"I think the music and the singing makes it really intense and the gospel makes me want to cry," LSA senior Sheree Brown said.

Many other audience members shared Brown's sentiments, saying the performance evoked numerous emotions.

"It speaks to the essence of the African American experience," Gilbert said. "Blues in its nature expresses anger, sadness, despair, yet through its rhythm, a hope for life."

Baraka's poetry referred to numerous people and events in black history, including Billie Holliday, Booker T. Washington and John Coltrane. He spoke about slavery, lynchings and freedom. In one of his poems, Baraka sung about "the cold city streets of Billie Holliday that still go on today."

LSA junior Mwanaisha Sims said she was able to relate Baraka's poem to her life.

"I was thinking so much of what I've studied," said Sims, who is concentrating in African and Afro-American Studies. "It makes me so proud."

The integration of familiar folk, blues, and jazz songs into the performance affected the audience members in a variety of ways.

"To see a production like this is an enlightening experience and is supposed to make you feel good," said LSA senior Jujuan Buford, who was the BSU speaker at the event.

Ann Arbor resident Tammy Butler said the music revived memories of when her parents used to play similar music at home.

"Although he was talking about a lot of things that are historical, they're still here today," Butler said.

02-19-99