1911-1987
Mother of Amiri Baraka. Born in Alabama, lived in Newark from 1926. Attended Tuskegee, Fisk, and Shaw College.
Administrator for Community Hospital for many years. Community relations specialist for the Newark Housing Authority, later identified as “supervisor of community relations and social services” and 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.
Heavily involved in education. In the Star Ledger she is listed on the Title 1 Advisory Committee for Robert Treat School (1971). In 1974 she is listed as an officer of the Newark Central Parents Council and she was an ESAA (Emergency School Aid Act). In 1980, she is listed as parent coordinator for the Special School Chorus of Newark. 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 she received a Woman of the Year award from 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.
A champion sprinter in 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.
Worked with the National Council for Negro Women, NAACP, League of Women Voters and Eleanor Roosevelt Workshop on Human Relations of the United Nations. In 1965, she is listed as a member of the Negro Assembly of Newark.
Bibliography
“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