Writer and social critic James Baldwin is known for addressing the intricacies of African Americans, White America and gay men through his writing. He has become a staple in contemporary literature. Though he passed away on December 1, 1987, his words and mindset —that was far beyond the moment he dwelled in—continue to be relevant in today’s hard reality of injustice, complex social issues and racial dilemmas. Remember his fight with some of his wisest words, below.
02
James Baldwin in 1963
“By deciding that they were white. By opting for safety instead of life. By persuading themselves that a Black child’s life meant nothing compared with a white child’s life… In this debasement of and definition of Black people, they debased and defined themselves.”
03
James Baldwin circa 1985 at Hampshire College
“I’m not interested in anybody’s guilt. Guilt is a luxury that we can no longer afford. I know you didn’t do it, and I didn’t do it either, but I am responsible for it because I am a man and a citizen of this country and you are responsible for it, for the very same reason.”
TOPICS: james baldwin