John Sinclair (poet)

Early Life and Education

• John Sinclair was a member of the Class of 1960 at Albion College but dropped out after the first year.
• He later attended the University of Michigan-Flint, where he graduated in 1964.
• During his education, Sinclair served on the university’s Publications Board and contributed to the school newspaper, The Word.

Activism in the 1960s

• Sinclair was involved in the reorganization of the Detroit underground newspaper, Fifth Estate.
• He contributed to the formation of the Detroit Artists Workshop Press.
• Sinclair worked as a jazz writer for Down Beat from 1964 to 1965 and founded the Ann Arbor Sun in April 1967.
• He also participated in the Berkeley Poetry Conference in July 1965.

Involvement with the MC5

• Sinclair managed the MC5 from 1966 through 1969 and embraced the counter-culture revolutionary politics of the White Panther Party.
• He booked The Five as the regular house band at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom and managed them during their free concert outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
• Sinclair separated from the band in 1969.

Imprisonment, Public Support, and Legalization Efforts

• Sinclair was sentenced to ten years in prison in 1969 for possession of marijuana, sparking high-profile protests.
• He was supported by public figures like John Lennon, leading to the John Sinclair Freedom Rally in December 1971 and a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court in 1972.
• Sinclair’s contributions to cannabis legalization efforts are highlighted, including his writing on the subject and his impact on psychedelic communitarianism.

Writing, Performances, and Legacy

• Sinclair has been active in writing, performing, and poetry, including a newspaper column on cannabis and spoken word pieces with The Blues Scholars.
• He has performed at various events, including Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009.
• Sinclair’s legacy includes his influence on artists like John Lennon and Pete Townshend, his contributions to the Detroit rock scene, and his impact on music and activism, all preserved through foundations and archives.

John Sinclair (poet) Data Sources