AMIRI BARAKAwas an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism. His son is Ras Jua Baraka, the current mayor of Newark, New Jersey. View fullsize View fullsize Amiri Baraka and his son, Ras Jua Baraka, the current mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Mayor Baraka’s progressive approach to governing has reduced crime to its lowest levels in five decades, addressed affordability while maintaining steady growth, lowered unemployment, returned local control of schools after more than two decades, and replaced all 23,000 known lead service lines in less than three years at no cost to residents, Baraka has defied expectations since taking office in 2014.