Report: Amiri Baraka Fundraising for Son's Mayoral Campaign

One of Newark’s most prominent activists is helping raise money for his son’s mayoral campaign, Politckernj recently reported.

Amiri Baraka, a poet who rose to prominence during the 1967 Newark riots, sent out an email blast to a long list of friends on behalf of his son, Ras Baraka, the South Ward councilman and a candidate for mayor in 2014. Baraka is also the principal of Central High School.

"It is a monumental task we are waging. It is for the May 2014 Newark, NJ Mayoral election. You can help us with the BARAKA FOR MAYOR campaign with $2,600 for Ras’ campaign, or $10,400 for TEAM BARAKA (4 Council (sic) candidates who will be named shortly). This has been a major struggle to get our second son, Ras to this point where he can meaningfully challenge the rule of the Corporate Lords and corrupt power brokers,” the text of Amiri Baraka’s email read, according to Politckernj.

The tentative field includes Baraka, Newark School Advisory Board member Shavar Jeffries -- another South Ward resident -- and Anibal Ramos, Baraka’s colleague on the council and president of the governing body. Not running is incumbent Mayor Cory Booker, who has announced plans to run for US Senate in 2014.

Both Ramos and Baraka have access to significant power bases. Baraka has the support of much of the old guard African-American vote in the South Ward, while Ramos reportedly has the backing of North Ward political boss Stephen Adubato. Ramos would also seek to become the first Hispanic mayor in a city with a large and growing Latino population.