Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Amiri Baraka ( born October 7 , 1934 ) , formerly known as LeRoi Jones , is an American writer of poetry , drama , fiction , essays , and music criticism .
Simplified: Amiri Baraka ( born October 7 , 1934 ) is an American writer . He writes poetry , drama , essays and music criticism .