He was considered a pioneer of the contemporary Black Arts movement . He was a self - described ` ` poet icon and revolutionary political activist '' `` Amiri Baraka believed poetry to be a process of discovery of one 's inner feelings , '' his website said . His poem ` ` Somebody Shut Up ' '' attracted controversy .
He was considered a pioneer of the contemporary Black Arts movement . He was a self - described ` ` poet icon and revolutionary political activist '' His poem ` ` Somebody Shut Up ' '' attracted controversy .