An Allusion To a Fake World: Amiri Baraka
Born on October 7th, 1934 Amiri Baraka, originally named LeRoi Jones, is best known for social criticism in his poetry. After embracing the Kawaida branch of Muslim faith in 1966, Baraka changed his name to show appreciation to his faith. Many of Baraka’s poems came as a shock to audiences due to his social criticism. Baraka used allusions to awaken the concern of black Americans, more specifically in politics. Baraka’s allusive techniques conveys the impact contemporary literature which can be seen in his poem “ In Memory of Radio”. This poem criticizes the control the radio has on human thought and how it creates a fake world. This can be seen in the opening stanza,
“Who has ever stopped to think of the divinity of Lamont Cranston? (Only Jack Kerouac, that I know of: & me. The rest of you probably had on WCBS and Kate Smith, Or something equally unattractive.)” ( Baraka 340 )
Which straight away shows the criticism of modern day radio channels. Compared to the radio channels during past decades which he alludes to the current radio channels that just tell you “ How to get saved & rich!” ( Baraka 340 ). The radio now falsifies the American Society and how it spreads fake news that leads people to hypocritical and allows jealousy to arise. This can be seen with the line
“ & Love is an evil word. Turn it backwards/see, see what I mean? An evol word. & besides who understands it? ( Baraka 340 )
More specifically the word “evil” shows how the radio’s purpose is being overlooked and creating “ evil” in society. In other words, creating a fake world. The radio, in Baraka’s perspective, is supposed to spread awareness but instead controls human thoughts and creates a fake world.
Baraka, Amiri. “In Memory of Radio.” The Portable Beat Reader, edited by Ann Charters, Penguin Books, 1992, pp. 340.
