Ras Baraka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ras Baraka
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Baraka in 2016
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| 40th Mayor of Newark | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Luis A. Quintana |
| Member of the Newark Municipal Council from the South Ward |
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| In office July 1, 2010 – July 1, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Oscar James |
| Succeeded by | John James |
| Member of the Newark Municipal Council from the at-large district |
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| In office November 2, 2005 – July 1, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Donald Kofi Tucker |
| Succeeded by | Mildred Crump |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ras Jua Baraka
April 9, 1970 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Linda Jumah
(m. 2019) |
| Relations |
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| Children | 4 |
| Education | Howard University (BA) Saint Peter's University (MA) |
Ras Jua Baraka (born April 9, 1970) is an American politician, writer, and teacher. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Baraka is the 40th and current mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He was first elected in 2014 and took office on July 1, 2014. He was reelected in 2018 and again in 2022.
Before becoming mayor, he served on the Municipal Council of Newark. He also worked as the principal of Central High School in the city. In 2025, Baraka ran for governor of New Jersey but did not win the primary election.
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Early Life and Education
Ras Baraka was born and raised in Newark. His father was the famous poet and activist Amiri Baraka. His mother, Amina Baraka, was also a poet and actress.
Baraka went to public schools in Newark, including University High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Later, he received a master's degree in education supervision from Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Career in Education
Before becoming a principal, Baraka was a school teacher. He served as the principal of Central High School from 2007 to 2013.
Poetry and Spoken Word
Ras Baraka has a strong background in poetry and spoken word. In 1992, he edited a book called In the Tradition: An Anthology of Young Black Writers.
He was also featured on singer Lauryn Hill's 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. He narrated several short parts on the album. Baraka also recorded the introduction to The Score, the second album by the music group Fugees.
Baraka dedicated his poetry collection Black Girls Learn Love Hard to his sister, Shani Baraka. She passed away in 2003. He has also performed at the city's Dodge Poetry Festival. In 2019, Baraka released a spoken word video called What We Want. In 2025, an audio recording of his poem American Poem was featured during singer Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour.
Early Political Career
From 2002 to 2006, Baraka was a member of the Newark Municipal Council. He was also appointed deputy mayor in 2002, serving in that role until 2005. In November 2005, he was elected to finish the term of a council member who had passed away.
In May 2010, he won a challenging election against councilman Oscar James II. Baraka's campaign focused on different ideas from then-Mayor Cory Booker. This election was shown in the Sundance TV reality TV series Brick City. The show featured Booker, Baraka, and other people from Newark.
Mayor of Newark
Elections
Ras Baraka first ran for mayor when he was 24 years old, in 1994.
He ran for mayor again in the 2014 Newark mayoral election. He competed against former Assistant State Attorney General Shavar Jeffries. Many people and groups supported Baraka's campaign. These included the Communications Workers of America and former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey.
On May 13, 2014, Baraka was elected mayor of Newark. He received more votes than Jeffries. He took over from Luis A. Quintana, who had been filling in after Cory Booker became a U.S. Senator. Baraka was sworn in as the city's 40th mayor on July 1, 2014. He was re-elected for new terms in 2018 and 2022.
Transition to Mayor
After winning the 2014 election, Baraka began meeting with important leaders. He met with Cory Booker, Governor Chris Christie, and Essex County executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr..
On May 28, 2014, Baraka announced his team that would help him transition into the mayor's office. This team was led by former mayor Kenneth Gibson. Baraka also appointed his brother, Amiri "Middy" Baraka, Jr., as his chief of staff.
Mayor's Work
Politico magazine has called Baraka "one of the most progressive Democrats" in New Jersey. During his time as mayor, he has been praised for helping Newark's economy grow.
Newark Schools
The Newark Public Schools system serves about 40,000 students. For many years, the state of New Jersey had control over the school system.
In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, donated $100 million to the Newark school system. This money was meant to help improve the schools.
A plan called One Newark was introduced. It suggested closing some public schools and opening more charter schools. Many people in Newark did not agree with this plan. They felt it did not listen to the community's needs. Critics also worried it would not help students perform better. The plan would also require some students to travel farther to school, which concerned parents about safety.
Baraka ran for mayor promising to bring local control back to the schools. In May 2014, Newark gained more control over its school budget and finances. The state still had the final say in appointing the superintendent. Baraka strongly believed that Newark's schools should be controlled locally. He called for the state-appointed superintendent, Cami Anderson, to resign. She did resign in June 2015. Baraka continues to oppose creating more charter schools, believing they can harm public schools.
Crime and Safety
In October 2013, Baraka introduced his plan to reduce crime and gang violence in Newark. This plan included "Project Chill," which works with gang members and offers help programs. In 2019 and 2020, the city saw a decrease in homicides.
In Fall 2014, Baraka started the Model Neighborhood initiative. This program increased police presence in areas with more crime. In 2020, Baraka created the Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery. This office helps direct resources to the causes of violence. It also makes sure that different groups working on public safety work together. The city has now reached a historic low in violence in 60 years.
Housing and Mortgages
Between 2008 and 2013, many homes in Newark faced foreclosure. Many homeowners also found their homes were worth less than what they owed on their mortgages. In May 2014, Baraka introduced a plan to help these homeowners. The city could buy homes with underwater mortgages through eminent domain and help refinance them.
In 2014, Baraka started a program called Model Neighborhoods. This program aimed to address the problems causing difficulties in neighborhoods. The city also held a Valentine's Day building lot sale in 2014. Married couples could buy housing plots for $1,000 if they built a house within 18 months.
Newark Water System
The Newark Watershed includes large areas of reservoirs and water treatment systems. These systems provide water to over 500,000 customers in northern New Jersey. In 2014, a report found problems within the Newark Watershed and Development Corporation. Baraka called for a detailed financial check of the agency.
In 2019, Baraka's administration began a huge effort to replace lead water pipes. These pipes were causing lead to be in the drinking water. By spring of 2021, over 20,000 lead service lines had been removed. In 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris called Newark "the national model" for replacing lead lines. The city completed replacing over 23,000 lines in less than three years, a project that was expected to take eight years.
City Budget
In August 2014, Baraka stated that Newark was facing a budget shortage. He said the city might need emergency help from the state. If the state provided aid, it would also mean state oversight of the city's finances. The state did award Newark $10 million in aid. This aid came with an agreement for the state to oversee the city's financial management.
City Hall Incident
In March 2023, Baraka and other city officials met with people who claimed to represent "Kailaasa." This group described itself as a self-proclaimed micronation. City officials signed documents to make Newark a "sister city" with Kailaasa. It was later discovered that Kailaasa was not a real country or city. City officials called it a "regrettable incident."
ICE Facility Protest
Baraka has opposed the reopening of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility at Delaney Hall in Newark. He argued that the facility did not have the proper permits.
On May 9, 2025, Baraka was arrested by ICE agents outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility. He was attempting to join a group of lawmakers who were visiting the facility. He was charged with trespassing and released later that day. After his release, Baraka said he did nothing wrong and would continue to oppose the facility. The charges against him were dropped on May 19, 2025.
2025 Governor Campaign
On February 19, 2024, Baraka announced he would run for governor of New Jersey in the 2025 election. He called for big changes in New Jersey. His campaign ideas included "reparations, sanctuary state laws, baby bonds, and [a] universal basic income".
Baraka has spoken about making the justice system in New Jersey more fair. He has suggested raising taxes on the state's highest earners. He also proposed reducing the tax burden for households earning less than $90,000.
Personal Life
Ras Baraka is a father to three daughters and one son. In 2019, he married political consultant Linda Jumah. Their son was born in 2019.
His half-sisters include Kellie and Lisa Jones and Dominique di Prima.
See also
