“It really changed how I see the world,” he says.
The mayor’s poetry readings have become wildly popular with his constituents — thousands regularly tune in to the briefings, suggesting poems for him to read and sending poetry they’ve written.
“Some days I’m so involved in the information I have to include in the briefing that I’ll forget to do the poem,” he says. “And I’ll invariably get an email that’s like, ‘Yo, you forgot the poem today, man!’”
In between briefings, Baraka has led a number of initiatives to support Newark residents throughout the pandemic, including grants for small businesses and expanded virus testing for the city’s homeless population.
On Saturday, he’ll participate in a "Def Poetry Jam" livestream event to raise money for coronavirus relief among Newark's vulnerable communities.
“He knows poetry is not simply entertainment, but a part of the civil charge and consciousness of the people, his people,” Jasmine Mans, a local poet and the creative director of artist initiative Embrace Newark, says of Baraka.
One glance at the briefing’s comments sections, filled with praise and well-wishes from residents, shows this rings true.
“Love you and your poems,” one wrote.
Another clever commenter chimed in: “U Can’t Hang, U Can’t Roam Cuz The Mayor Of Newark Wants U To STAY HOME!!!”
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