Controlled Demolitions

In "Someone Blew Up America," Amiri Baraka got roasted for these lines:

Who knew the World Trade Center was gonna get bombed
Who told 4000 Israeli workers at the Twin Towers
To stay home that day
Why did Sharon stay away?

The poem became infamous after Baraka read it at the Geraldine Dodge Festival on September 20, 2002. On October 2, 2002 , he defended himself to Connie Chung on CNN:

CHUNG: Why did you write these particular lines that have provoked such controversy?

BARAKA: Well, let's say the rest of the poem is of no consequence? It's just those lines that are important?

CHUNG: Those lines have created quite a firestorm. And you know that.

BARAKA: Well, here's the point. My intention was to show that not only did Israel know, because Israel -- we're talking about 9/11 -- not only did Israel know, but the United States knew. Bush and company...

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