Amiri Baraka Dies at 79

What a week. We are deeply saddened to report that Amiri Baraka, formerly known as Leroi Jones, has died in a hospital in his hometown of Newark. The New Jersey News writes that "Baraka was placed in intensive care at Beth Israel Medical Center last month for an unknown reason, but a spokesman for his son's mayoral campaign said his condition was improving late in December. Baraka had long struggled with diabetes, but it was not immediately clear what the cause of death was." More to come on this soon. Our hearts go out to his friends and family.