Poet visit creates controversy among Hillel

Poet accused of being 'anti-Semitic, anti-Israel'

A poet who focuses on black poetic expression will recite to JMU students Sept. 24 at 1:30 p.m. in Wilson Hall.

The Furious Flower II Poetry Conference invites poets to speak about the African-American experience.

The poet Amiri Baraka is causing some controversy due to strong word usage in his poetry about politically charged events.

"For nearly 40 years, Mr. Baraka has used his poetry to promote anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda and racist fallacies and falsehoods," said junior Daniel Teweles, president of Hillel, JMU’s Jewish organization. "Considering these facts, why then should JMU give Mr. Baraka an open forum to espouse his hateful lies under the guise of poetic license?"

According to professor and Furious Flower II organizer Joanne Gabbin, any controversy related to Baraka should not overshadow the conference.

"We will have more than 40 poets, like Rita and Lucille Clifton," Gabbin said. "I think people who understand Baraka’s poetry know he uses discomfort as a technique. It’s his style.

"Each poet only has 15 to 20 minutes per session to speak. I want students to see how various people express the written word."

Amid the coverage, Gabbin and Teweles developed a way to compromise rather than taint the Furious Flower with negativity.

"Students will have opportunities to meet with poets," Gabbin said. "I will be assigning Baraka to Teweles, and Teweles can pick him up at the airport. He will have an opportunity to voice his concerns.That’s the spirit of what we are trying to do here."

Teweles said that he looks forward to attending Furious Flower events. "Our intention was not to un-invite Baraka," Teweles said. "We just love JMU and don’t want a speaker here to give it a bad name. The resources to bring him here just could have been put elsewhere."

Although students may not agree with the language Baraka uses to express himself, many see the potential learning that can occur during the conference.

"If you can bring someone here that will make people think, then it’s a good thing," senior Carly Stamey said. "Sometimes you have to create hype to get people to go and form their own opinions."

Furious Flower II to be held Sept. 22-25

Geary Cox
news editor

The Furious Flower series of conferences will celebrate its 10th anniversary at JMU Sept. 22 to 25 with the Furious Flower II Poetry Conference.

"Furious Flower is an international gathering of African-American poets and those in African-American poetry," said Joanne Gabbin, event organizer.

Furious Flower II will open Sept. 22 with the production of an original play entitled "The Bard Meets the Black and Unknown Bards" at the Blackfriar’s Playhouse in Staunton, Gabbin said.

In addition to the play, the conference will feature readings by noted black poets and poet laureates.

Gabbin said that prominent critics in the field of African-American poetry will provide daily panel discussions of work.

There will be six exhibits in connection with the conference, including "26 Ways of Looking at a Black Man." The exhibit will mix the poetry of Raymond Patterson and photographic works.

For a full schedule of events, visit the Furious Flower Web site, jmu.edu/furiousflower.