Hettie Jones, a poet, author, and influential figure in the Beat Generation, passed away on November 27th, 2022, at the age of 90. Jones was known for her groundbreaking work as a writer, as well as her role in nurturing and supporting the artists of the Beat Generation.
Born Hettie Cohen in Brooklyn, New York in 1934, Jones grew up in a working-class Jewish family. She attended the City College of New York, where she became involved in the burgeoning literary and cultural scene of Greenwich Village in the 1950s. It was there that she met and fell in love with the poet LeRoi Jones, who would later become known as Amiri Baraka.
Together, Hettie and LeRoi Jones founded Yugen magazine, a groundbreaking publication that featured the work of emerging poets and writers of the Beat Generation. Jones also played a key role in organizing readings and events that brought together some of the most important figures of the Beat movement, including Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William S. Burroughs.
Jones’s own writing was deeply influenced by her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated literary scene. Her poetry and prose often explored themes of identity, race, and gender, and she was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and racial equality. Her most famous work, “How I Became Hettie Jones,” is a memoir that chronicles her life in the Beat scene and her struggles as a woman and a writer.
In addition to her writing, Jones was also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She taught creative writing at the New School for many years, and was known for her generosity and support of young writers. Many of her students went on to become successful authors and poets in their own right.
Hettie Jones’s impact on American literature and culture cannot be overstated. Her work as a writer, teacher, and advocate for social justice has left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists and activists. She will be remembered not only for her groundbreaking writing, but also for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering commitment to creating a more just and equitable world.
