Imamu Amiri Baraka was a renowned American author, playwright, poet, and political activist. He was also known by several other names throughout his life. One of the most well-known synonyms for Baraka is LeRoi Jones, which he used earlier in his career. Another synonym that he was sometimes called was simply Amiri Baraka. Later in his life, he changed his name again to Imamu Ameer Baraka, which reflects his growing involvement in the Muslim community. Despite these name changes, Baraka remained a powerful and influential voice in American literature and politics until his death in 2014.