[40][41][42] Release of the funds required matching funds, which were mostly raised through the Foundation for Newark's Future and have largely been spent, though funds remain. Baraka appointed his brother, Amiri "Middy" Baraka, Jr. as his chief of staff. Amiri Baraka was an African-American writer, essayist, playwright and music critic, known for his abstruse writing style which has often been difficult for the readers to comprehend. [5] He still laments how intimate-partner violence ripped through the fabric of his close-knit social network, way beyond the two people involved. Jan. 20, 2015: Mayor Ras Baraka, at the podium, unveils his plan for a civilian complaint review board of police misconduct. People look at them and say, ‘Oh, how could you or why would you?’ So I think that may be part of the reason why I stayed silent for so long, because I certainly didn’t want to disappoint people.”. Shani’s brother, Ras Baraka, is presently the deputy mayor of Newark. Mayor Baraka’s commitment to Newark is an example to mayors across the country. Policing in America Ras Baraka on reforms to bring communities and police closer together. A committed community activist and poet, Ras Baraka edited a pinnacle collection of poetry, In the Tradition (with Kevin Powell) - an anthology of young Black poets (1991). Baraka appointed his brother, Amiri "Middy" Baraka, Jr. as his chief of staff. And you need to remove yourself. As of September 2014, the state's Local Finance Board, overseen by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, had not taken action. “Shani was my sister, my baby sister, but she really was like my big sister in the community,” Ras Baraka says. Girls; Live, Love, Laugh Inc. in conjunction with Mayor Ras J. Baraka City of Newark, Newark GALS and My Sister's Keeper presents our 1st Annual Inaugural Girls Matter Walk. Her sister, Wanda Pasha, was separating from her increasingly violent and erratic husband, who lay in wait at her Piscataway, N.J., home. degree in education supervision from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City in 1994. In 2014, after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka won his bid for mayor, his brother and chief of staff, Amiri “Middy” Baraka, Jr. said, “I’ve got my brother’s back.” Editor Email Phone Mark Bonamo Amiri Baraka (born Everett LeRoi Jones; October 7, 1934 – January 9, 2014), previously known as LeRoi Jones and Imamu Amear Baraka, was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism. [88] The state's Department of Community Affairs awarded Newark $10 million in transitional aid, which comes with a required oversight memorandum of understanding. ", Newark Mayor Weds, Social Media Fills with Congratulations, Shopping and parties? The deal calls for Uber to pay Newark $1 million a year for 10 years for permission to operate at Newark Liberty International Airport, which serves the New York City region and is one of the busiest airports in the nation. “[Shani] was victimized because of domestic violence,” Ras Baraka says. [46][47][48][49][50][51] The plan would also include teacher lay-offs. It’s unique in that it is split into two wings, with social services on one side and a fully functioning police station on the other. A New Jersey State Comptroller report issued in February 2014 revealed irregularities and corruption within the Newark Watershed and Development Corporation, which is the process of being dismantled after being taken over by the city. [7] He also recorded the intro to The Score, The Fugees' second album. On Aug. 16, 1989, Ras learned that his kid brother, Ahi, 15, had been arrested with a group of other juveniles by Newark police for “blocking sidewalks and harassing pedestrians.”. Siblings Helping Feed Hundreds On Thanksgiving To Honor Mother Who Died From COVID-19Two North Jersey siblings and ... Newark Under 10-Day Stay-At-Home AdvisoryNewark Mayor Ras Baraka … And you always feel like you have to protect your sister and the women in your family, and then you realize that we have to empower women to protect themselves.”. [75], Between 2008 and mid-2013, 6,810 homes were foreclosed in Newark, and citywide, and homeowners in the city and lost roughly $1.8 billion in home values. Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Fellow. My parents had pulled over to have an argument. Ras Baraka on reforms to bring communities and police closer together. Baraka was sworn in as the city's 40th mayor by former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey at ceremonies at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on July 1, 2014 for a four-year term. They got an education", "POLITICAL SCENE: INEQUALITY AND EDUCATION IN NEWARK", http://www.nj.com/education/2014/05/at_downtown_rally_critics_of_newark_school_plan_present_alternative.html, "Who Gets to Control Newark's Schools? I watched my father being beaten by officers as my siblings and I sat in the back seat of a car. Baraka started writing poetry when he was in high school. Ms. Baraka's brother, Ras, a Newark deputy mayor, said his sister and Ms. Holmes had gone to the house on Monday to retrieve clothing his sister kept there. The center also boasts a doctor’s office, a safe space for the LGBTQ community, and grief and trauma counseling. Mouthy Black Girl. “We discovered that her needs extended far beyond her situation today,” Smith says. [78], The Newark Watershed comprises 35,000 acres of reservoirs and water treatment and supply systems for more than 500,000 customers in northern New Jersey including Newark and neighboring Belleville, Elizabeth, Bloomfield and Nutley. It caused a lot of tension in our neighborhood, and obviously a lot of grief in our family.”. He was the author of numerous books of poetry and taught at several universities, including the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University. “It felt amazing not to have to walk around with the guilt and the shame of the entire situation,” she says. [35][36][37] Newark is one of 31 "Abbott", or "SDA district"[38] which requires the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.[39]. Mayor's girlfriend already dodged jail time. [19] In August 2013, fellow council members Mildred C. Crump and Ronald C. Rice issued statements formally backing Baraka's candidacy. Ras Baraka was elected mayor of New Jersey's largest city after criticizing the charter schools and corporate interests that thrived when Booker, the … The allegation is being investigated by the United States Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. [66], In October 2013 Baraka introduced his program to deal with crime and gang violence in the city, the Ras Baraka Blueprint to Reduce Crime and Violence in Newark[67] It includes "Project Chill", which incorporates elements similar to Boston's Operation Ceasefire and other engagement with gang members and intervention programs. A few years after Shani Baraka’s death, Ras Baraka dedicated a book of poetry, Black Girls Learn Love Hard (Moore Black Press), to her. In New Jersey, black women between the ages of 25 and 45 are 3.5 times more likely than white women to be victims of intimate-partner homicides. I watched my father being beaten by officers as my siblings and I … He won reelection in the 2018 mayoral race. “And [learn] how to effectively get out of the situation. [13], Between 2002 and 2006 Baraka was Newark Municipal Council member and in 2002 was appointed deputy mayor, and served that position until 2005. Ras Baraka eulogized his father with unsentimental remarks that looked toward the future. newark mourns shani baraka domestic abuse blamed in killings of 2 women. [20][21] Baraka's slate for the municipal council included John Sharpe James (council member-at-large running for South Ward), Mildred C. Crump (council member at-large incumbent), Alturrick Kenney (at-large candidate), Patrick Council (at-large candidate) and Joe McCallum (West Ward candidate). Mayor's friend accused of violating probation. Her sister, Wanda Pasha… [93], In November 2017, Baraka and his campaign treasurer were issued a 28-count complaint by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, alleging they violated campaign finance rules in the 2014 mayoral election, mainly for failure to fully disclose the source of $396,000[94] in campaign donations in the expensive and tightly-contested campaign.[95]. On the social services side, there are offices and resources from a plethora of partner organizations—including the Association of Black Psychologists, Planned Parenthood, the Summer Youth Employment program and RZ the Flags—as well as full-time staff from rape and sexual assault and HIV-education organizations. The current mayor, Ras J. Baraka, is the son of poet, educator and activist Amiri and Amina Baraka. They got an education", "At downtown rally, critics of Newark school plan present alternative", "Newark, N.J., Schools Plan Opposed By Mayor-Elect Ras Baraka Takes Big Step Forward", "Newark mayor Ras Baraka tries to wrest control of the city's schools from Cory Booker, Chris Christie, and Mark Zuckerberg", "Newark, Paterson may have long roads to regaining full control of schools from state", "Anderson to Remain at Helm of Newark Schools, Activists Vow Ouster", "Feds investigate claims of racial discrimination in Newark school reorganization", "Baraka asks for Newark superintendent's resignation — again", "Newark leaders call Anderson's departure 'long overdue, "Baraka calls Christie's charter expansion OK a 'huge step backwards' for Newark", "The Ras Baraka Blueprint to Redce Crime and Violence in Newark", "Newark mayor's race: Ras Baraka rolls out his public safety plan", http://rasjbaraka.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/BARAKA-BLUEPRINT-FOR-CRIME-Final-Copy.pdf, "Newark Councilman Ras Baraka calling for gang cease-fire, increased police presence in wake of killings", "Newark mayoral hopeful wrote letters on behalf of notorious city gang boss, records show", "Baraka calls for gang ceasefire in Newark; mom seeks justice for son killed on Christmas", "Newark mayoral candidate faces blowback for writing letters in support of gang member", "Newark man gunned down before dawn is city's 44th homicide victim", "Fixing Newark's neighborhoods a long-term initiative, report says", "Newark's Terrible New Foreclosure Fix Idea Activists in the city think eminent domain can save their", "Working With Grassroots Organizing Groups, Ras Baraka, Newark's Mayor-Elect, Takes Steps To Help Homeowners", "NJ STILL DROWNING IN 'UNDERWATER' MORTGAGES, NEW STUDY REVEALS", "Newark, state leaders call for criminal investigation of Newark watershed", "Newark Watershed dissolves, leaving city to manage water for 500,000 customers", "Baraka calls for forensic audit of Newark Watershed", "Newark fights court order to fund shutdown of watershed agency", "Cory Booker: U.S. Attorney reported to be probing his watershed pals (Mulshine)", "Baraka Faces Newark's Challenges in Post-Booker Era", "Newark mayor Ras Baraka seeks transitional aid, state oversight", "Newark Mayor Announces Strategy to Reduce $93 Million Budget Deficit", "Newark to auction off dozens of properties, amid budget deficit (Map)", "State searching outside help to oversee Newark's finances", "State to cut Newark council members' expenses in half in effort to rein in city's spending", "Newark rolls out plans to rehabilitate two blight, crime-ridden neighborhoods", "Land for $1,000: Homeowner hopefuls flock to Newark Valentines Day Sale", "Here's what happened to those 100 lots Newark gave away last Valentine's Day", "Newark Mayor, Campaign Aide Hit With $396K ELEC Complaint", "Newark mayor accused of violating campaign finance rules", "Newark mayor's race candidate profile: Ras Baraka", https://www.nj.com/essex/2018/05/linda_jumah_probation_violation_ras_baraka_newark.html, https://www.nj.com/essex/2018/09/already_on_probation_mayors_live-in_girlfriend_ass.html, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Beyond Booker: Assessing the Prospect of Black and Latino Mayoral Candidates in Newark, New Jersey", "WOULD-BE SUCCESSORS TO CORY BOOKER OFFER VIEWS ON NEWARK'S SCHOOLS", "Newark Elections: Cory Booker backlash bolstered Ras Baraka (Mulshine)", "Baraka Win in Newark Boosts Unions Other Beneficiaries Include New Jersey Mayor Fulop", Analysis: How Ras Baraka Won Election as Mayor Of Newark, "An Election Analysis:Amiri Baraka's Son Becomes Mayor of Newark, New Jersey By Earning It", "The Newark revolution was not televised Democratic regulars just beat down big Wall St. money to "seize power." Campaign financing irregularities accusation, Nix, Naomi (May 20, 2014). “I think when people look a certain way, because the expectation of life is different for them, it makes it harder to come forward. We can be an extension of what they do.”. Teams of consultants have suggested numerous management reforms from the top down, but according to Ras Baraka, echoing concerns of many residents, they have ignored the community and the needs of children and wishes of families in the neighborhoods. [24] In March he was endorsed by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The very first person you hear on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill isn’t Lauryn Hill. Shani Baraka was a lifelong Newark resident who taught science and language arts at Vailsburg Middle School. On a balmy summer night in 2003, 31-year-old Shani Baraka and her partner, Rayshon Holmes, 30, went to Baraka’s older sister’s house to retrieve some of her belongings. “That’s when you need as much help as you can get.”. He was editor of In the tradition: an anthology of young Black writers (1992). [15], Baraka ran his first campaign for mayor when he was 24 years old, in 1994. Mayor Luis A. Quintana, who was elected to be an at-large councilman, ran as an independent. Learn more about the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center below: Ms. Bronner Helm is the Senior Editorial Director at Colorlines. [14] The election was documented on the Sundance reality television series Brick City, which stars Booker, Baraka and other Newark political and residential figures. In 2010 Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, donated $100 million of his personal fortune through his foundation StartUp Education to the Newark school system. The Blacker the Content the Sweeter the Truth, the New Jersey Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. He had read as part of the city's Dodge Poetry Festival. CH: Your name sounds a little like our former president’s. His poems and essays mostly reflected the social issues concerning African-Americans and he was also famous as the founder of the ‘Black Arts Movement’. ", "Newark mayoral race narrows to 2 as another candidate drops out", "Crump and Rice endorse Baraka in Newark mayor's race", "Newark mayoral contenders Ras Baraka, Anibal Ramos pick up union endorsements", "Newark mayoral slates start to coalesce", "CWA set to endorse Baraka in Newark mayoral contest", "Newark mayor's race: Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop endorses Baraka", "Newark mayor's race: Baraka awash in labor union endorsements", "Newark mayor's race: Baraka, Jeffries hold dueling events at city supermarkets", "Mayor-elect Baraka and Booker agree to work together to benefit Newark", "Mayor elect Ras Baraka announces transition team", "Newark mayor's new chief of staff Amiri Baraka, Jr.: "I've got my brother's back, "Uber agrees to $10M fee, driver background checks in deal with Newark", "Newark's kids' conditions improving, but they still lag behind rest of NJ: report", "Judge Orders a State Takeover Of the Newark School District", "Suit Seeks to Halt Newark Schools Takeover", "Why Aren't Chris Christie, Mark Zuckerberg, and Cory Booker Defending Newark's School Chief? Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced that the City of Newark will join with the First Lady Linda Baraka and his women’s initiatives including My Sister’s Keeper, Women’s Commission, Shani Baraka Center, and Women’s Leadership meetings to host a virtual “Newark Women’s Day of Wellness” on Thursday, May 28, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Shani’s brother, Ras Baraka, is presently the deputy mayor of Newark. In 2013 through June 30, the city recorded 41 homicides. Baraka, as an outspoken advocate of returning control of Newark's schools to local authority, has called for the ouster of state-appointed Superintendent Anderson. [33], The Newark Public Schools system (serving approximately 40,000 students)[34] was placed under state control in 1994. DiPrima is the daughter of famed late poet Amiri Baraka and the sister of Newark mayor Ras Baraka. ", "5 things you might not know about Ras Baraka", "Newly elected Newark mayor inherits challenges", "After Cory Booker Departs, a Radical Poet's Son Rises as Mayor of Newark Ras Baraka wants to reclaim New Jersey's largest city from charter schools and Wall Street", "Election in Newark: Was Ras Baraka's win a referendum on Cory Booker? [52] While there is some agreement with many of the policies being implemented in the program, the disregard for community input and the pace of change has drawn criticism. [97][98] In 2019, Jumah was accused of assaulting Baraka's teenage daughter in a domestic dispute at the mayor's home[99] . Miss Baraka's brother, formerly known as LeRoi Jones, is an associate professor at the State University at Stony Brook, L.I. [8], Baraka dedicated his collection of poems Black Girls Learn Love Hard to the life of his late sister, Shani Baraka,[1][9] who had been fatally shot in 2003. Often shrouded in secrecy and shame, domestic violence is a hidden public health crisis, especially for black women. ", Defying Expectations, Mayor Ras Baraka Is Praised in All Corners of Newark, municipalities with populations exceeding 100,000, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ras_Baraka&oldid=990889349, Members of the Municipal Council of Newark, African-American city council members in New Jersey, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2019, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Wikipedia external links cleanup from January 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 November 2020, at 02:47. A rabble-rousing new mayor wants to undo the reforms that Cory Booker, Chris Christie, and Mark Zuckerberg brought to town", "Schooled Cory Booker, Chris Christie, and Mark Zuckerberg had a plan to reform Newark's schools. Here was a building named after his younger sister Shani Baraka, who was fatally shot by her older sister's estranged and abusive husband. “The center really symbolizes not just something for our family but also for women in the neighborhood, especially women of color.”. Since opening its doors in May, the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center has served over 1,000 women. [needs update] The donation precipitated an effort to reform and restructure the system. The first time Ras Baraka was mentioned in The Newark Star-Ledger was on Dec. 2, 1988, a small blurb on page 42, announcing he would be reading his own poetry at Kimako’s Blues People, a community art space founded by his parents to showcase Newark artists. Baraka is the father of three daughters Amandla, Assata, Raisa[96]. The San Francisco-based company also will provide $1.5 million in liability coverage for all drivers in its network. [31] During his tenure as mayor he has earned praise for improving Newark’s economic prospects. The show tackles issues of interest to Southern California’s African American community. These include systemic racial and gendered oppression, as well as economic and immigration status. But there are also cultural barriers, like not seeing themselves reflected in existing services, racial loyalty, fear of being judged, religion and—my words—always placing themselves last. [12], In 2019 Baraka released the spoken word video What We Want. [3] [79][80][81] In March 2014, Baraka called for a forensic audit of the agency.