The playwright Jones is Leroi Jones, also known as Amiri Baraka. He was an African-American writer, poet, and activist who was a major figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote plays, essays, and poetry that explored the experiences of African-Americans and their struggle for liberation. His works often addressed issues of racism, sexism, and classism. He was also a prominent voice in the civil rights movement.