so it is amiri baraka.if it was arabic, i would probably have more difficulty flying. >> amiri baraka moved back to his hometown of newark and began focusing on political organizing. nearly beaten by police during the uprising in newark. he was once identified as the person that would emerge as leaders of the pan african movement in the united states. in 1970, he formed the congress of african people. he continued writing performance poetry up until he was hospitalized late last year. in 2002, he was named poet laureate of new jersey, a post that was eliminated after a poem about thefter the -- september 11 attacks which created a firestorm throughout the country and state. baraka's work also influenced a younger generation of hip-hop artists and slam poets. in a moment we will be joined by four guess to talk about his life and legacy, but first let's the jama performance on poetry. why is we americans? why is we americans? [singing] real. want is me, for what i see in what i see and feel and who is me and

amiri baraka was 79 years old.ll to come on the newshour: new jersey governor chris christie gets snarled in a scandal; warnings of a heroin crisis from vermont governor peter shumlin; the n.f.l.'s $760 million concussion settlement; doctors using poetry to provide better care; an update on implementing the new health care law; plus, a former middle- eastern diplomat on the arab spring's uncertain future. >> ifill: now, the traffic jam that's jammed up a governor and possible presidential candidate in new jersey. republican chris christie spent nearly two hours today responding to allegations that his closest aides have been punishing his political foes. holman begins our coverage.e >> i come out here today to apologize to the people of new jersey. >> reporter: governor christie started with a "mea culpa" that the scandal happened on his watch while insisting he was "blindsided." >> i am embarrassed and humiliated by the conduct of some of the people on my team. i had no knowledge or involvement in this issue, in i