‘Remember, Shani!’ says Baraka at daughter’s home-going celebration

By Jamie Walker | Last updated: Sep 1, 2003 - 3:13:00 PM

Funeral service for Shani Baraka. (Inset) Shani remembrance poster. Photos: Jamie Walker

NEWARK(FinalCall.com) - Hundreds filed their way into Metropolitan Baptist Church August 16 to pay final tributes to Shani Baraka, 32, the youngest daughter of artist-activists, Amina and Amiri Baraka, and her friend Rayshon Holmes, 30, who were found murdered August 12 in the Piscataway, New Jersey home of Shani and her older sister, Wanda Pasha. Each reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body.

Middlesex County prosecutor, Bruce Kaplan, labeled Ms. Pasha’s estranged ex-husband, James L. Coleman, a suspect on August 20 after a five-day nationwide man-hunt for his arrest. That same day, Mr. Coleman turned himself in claiming he was "innocent." He is being held at Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $100,000 bail.

Mr. Coleman, who also goes by the name of Ibn El-Amin Pasha, had a restraining order issued against him on April 27. In early July, he was charged with pointing a handgun at Ms. Pasha’s head in her home and threatening to kill her. Mr. Coleman, whom Ms. Pasha divorced this past February, has not been served with either charges and has been considered a fugitive since July, Mr. Kaplan said.

The case mirrors that of many women involved in domestic violence disputes who receive little, if any, help or full protection under the law from the police department until it is much too late. During the funeral services, Amiri Baraka, an acknowledged father of the historic Black Arts Movement, spoke on behalf of his beloved daughter, Wanda.

"She filed 12 reports with the Piscataway police department," he repeated, "Twelve reports. How many times do you have to say there is a crazy man out here who is going to kill me?" His indignation aroused a resounding applause from the filled-to-capacity church congregation.

Born October 23, 1971, Shani Isis Makeda Jones Baraka "was full of life and fire," as her older brother Ras noted. Shani taught science and language arts at Valisburg Middle School and was also assistant basketball coach at Malcolm X Shabazz High School.

At the joint-funeral service, her brother asked through tears: "Why couldn’t we save her in all of our Blackness, prayers, our revolution talk, or [healing] conferences? Why couldn’t we keep her alive? How can we save a community and let our little sister die?"

Poet Sonia Sanchez, who taught one of the first Black Studies courses in the nation at San Francisco State University in 1965, read a poem called, "A Pavane for Shani: A Young Sister Warrior." Other incredible testimony from all over the world in support of the Barakas was read during the "acknowledgments," including comments from Mayor Sharpe James; Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry; Congressman Donald Payne; Max Roach; Lucille Clifton; Jayne Cortez; Ntozake ShangŽ; and JosŽ Cruz, among others.

Back at the Baraka house, posters of Shani adorned lampposts outside. Inside the house, the sound of African drums could be heard emanating from the living room, as young persons, relatives and friends began to make their way toward the living room, where they gathered in a healing circle to clap, dance, shout with joy and help to provide Shani a safe passage back home. Just then, Amiri and Amina Baraka, who have been married for over 35 years, entered the house, with poet Sonia Sanchez and other members of the Baraka family who had recently returned from Shani’s interment at Fairmont Crematory.

Noticing the irresistible sound of the African drum, the Barakas stepped inside the healing circle. Those who were gathered around Amina clapped and danced, as they chanted, "Shani! Shani! Shani!" Raising a picture of Shani up high, Mr. Baraka said: "Remember, Shani!"

(Jamie Walker is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer and author of "101 Ways Black Women Can Learn to Love Themselves: A Gift for Women of All Ages." She can be reached via email at [email protected].)

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