John Sinclair (poet)

John Sinclair (October 2, 1941 – April 2, 2024) was an American poet, writer, and political activist. He was born in Flint, Michigan. Sinclair was known for his jazz poetry. He was a founding member of the White Panther Party, a militantly anti-racist socialist group and counterpart of the Black Panthers.

In 1969, Sinclair was sentenced to ten years in jail for having marijuana. His prison sentence was criticized. He was freed in 1971, but he remained in litigation. His case against the government for illegal domestic surveillance was successfully taken to the United States Supreme Court in United States v. U.S. District Court (1972).

Sinclair died of heart failure at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan on April 2, 2024, at the age of 82.

References

Category:1941 births
Category:2024 deaths
Category:American poets
Category:American political activists
Category:American political writers
Category:Writers from Detroit
Category:People from Flint, Michigan
Category:Deaths from heart failure