Bob Kaufman, Poet: The Life and Times of an African American Man

Description

Documentary from interviews and old recordings which examines the life and work of Bob Kaufman. His life is reconstructed through interviews with scholars, family members and acquaintances. His work is viewed not only politically, but also metaphysically and psychologically. Includes discussion of his battles with alcohol, drug addiction, brutal beatings by police, jailings, shock treatments and psychotropic drug therapy. Includes a rare 1958 recording of Kaufman reading Second April, an epic poem, and an interview with Kaufman discussing aspects of jazz with recordist Henry Jacobs.

PARTICIPANTS: Amiri Baraka, Alan Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Tattoo Bob Murphy, Lynne Wildey, Roscoe Lee Brown, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Susanne Cockrell, Tony Seymour, Eileen Kaufman (wife), Parker Kaufman (son), and George Kaufman (brother).

Broadcast date

1992

Program Length

120 minutes

Archive number

SZ0666a-b

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