1911-1987
Anna Jones was the mother of Amiri Baraka who was active in the community in education and civic activism, and a champion sprinter in her youth. She was also administrator of Community Hospital, Newark’s Black hospital, for many years.
Born in Alabama, Anna lived in Newark from around 1926. She attended Tuskegee, Fisk, and Shaw College. She graduated from the High School Department of Tuskegee in 1929.
Anna was a champion sprinter in high school and college considered one of the fastest women in nation. In 1981, she was featured by Barbara Kukla in a Ledger piece when she was inducted into the Tuskegee Institute Sports Hall of Fame.
Anna was the Administrator for Community Hospital for many years. She was a community relations specialist for the Newark Housing Authority, later identified as “supervisor of community relations and social services”.
Anna was associated with United Community Corp (1973). In 1968, she was elected to the Model Cities Committee. In 1969, she’s listed as a supporter of the Black and Puerto Rican Convention. She was a trustee of the Newark Negro Assembly in 1965.
Anna was heavily involved in education. In the Star Ledger she is listed on the Title 1 Advisory Committee for Robert Treat School (1971). She was active in the Central Avenue and Robert Treat PTAs.
In 1974 she is listed as an officer of the Newark Central Parents Council (Title One Central Parents Council”. In 1980, she is listed as parent coordinator for the Special School Chorus of Newark, of deaf students. Later she is listed as a consultant or assistant to Newark’s Title One program. In 1985, she was sworn in as a member of the Child Placement Review Board of Essex County.
In 1973 Anna received a Woman of the Year award from the Committee for a Unified Newark. In 1977, she was honored at a testimonial dinner. In 1982, she was honored by Project Pride.
In 1980, she was featured as one of Newark’s “glamourous grannies” which helped provide services and happiness to senior citizens.
Anna worked with the National Council for Negro Women, NAACP, League of Women Voters and Eleanor Roosevelt Workshop on Human Relations of the United Nations.
Bibliography
“Lois Russ Eyes World Dash Mark” Chicago Defender May 18, 1929
“Anna Lois Jones, Activists Mother” Star Ledger May 23, 1987
“Black Heritage Deserves Teaching” Star Ledger May 12, 1971
“Baraka Criticizes Kerr for Performance on Job” Star Ledger Jul 25, 1973
“Notice” Star Ledger July 25, 1974
“Breakfast Awards” Star Ledger Oct 1, 1973
“NHA Employee to Be Honored” Star Ledger Oct 28, 1977
Jett, Jason “Deaf Chorus Sings Out Through Lyrical Signing” Star Ledger May 12, 1980
“The Warmest Regards for Sociable Grannies” Star Ledger May 12, 1980
Kukla, Barbara “Grandma’s Still Putting Her Best Foot Forward” Nov 23, 1981
Little, Benilde, “Project Pride Honors Four Moms”, Sept 20, 1982
“Friends of Children” Star Ledger Nov 11, 1985
“Plan Board Aide Leader of New Negro Assembely” Star Ledger Oct 21, 1965
“Model Cities Committee” Star Ledger Apr 29, 1968
“Unity in the Community” Star Ledger Nov 14, 1969
“Tuskegee to Have Girls Track Team” New York Age Feb 16, 1929
Newark Library Digital Collections
Woody, Kenneth “Title one” Star Ledger May 19, 1980
“Tuskegee Girl Relay Runners” Chicago Defender Mar 22, 1930