In observance of Black History Month I figured I'd share my experience with a very prominent, very well-known author, James Baldwin.
I've had a lot of exposure to Baldwin in my academic career but honestly didn't give him much thought until mid-Masters degree when I read Sonny's Blues. This short story is evocative and so, so disheartening. I won't give too much away here, as I'm hoping you've read it or will read it in your lifetime. It is short and compelling and though I am not much of a short story enthusiast, it stuck with me.
In my class we moved on to his more known novels, "Go Tell it on the Mountain," "The Fire Next Time," and "Giovanni's Room." These works are so filled with pain, with hard-pressed hope, and with endurance that I couldn't help but to appreciate them.
I think I've mentioned more than a few times that in the past year I've really expanded the types of novels I read, Baldwins works came right in the middle of that. His works struck a chord with me and played on a favorite trope of mine -- struggle and pain but everlasting endurance and perseverance. It may sound strange but I love to read about people, or characters, struggling and enduring the struggle. I appreciate their strength and hope that I, too, can have strength in my own struggles. It motivates and inspires me.
Baldwin is a treasured author and not because he is African American, but because he wrote about real things, things that masses could relate to, things that made people think and feel. So, during this Black History Month I challenge you to read one of his short stories-- not because of his ethnicity but because he writes honestly and beautifully, and this is really all we can ask of our author-folk.
Please enjoy a short reading by Baldwin of "The Price of the Ticket," below:
I've had a lot of exposure to Baldwin in my academic career but honestly didn't give him much thought until mid-Masters degree when I read Sonny's Blues. This short story is evocative and so, so disheartening. I won't give too much away here, as I'm hoping you've read it or will read it in your lifetime. It is short and compelling and though I am not much of a short story enthusiast, it stuck with me.
In my class we moved on to his more known novels, "Go Tell it on the Mountain," "The Fire Next Time," and "Giovanni's Room." These works are so filled with pain, with hard-pressed hope, and with endurance that I couldn't help but to appreciate them.
I think I've mentioned more than a few times that in the past year I've really expanded the types of novels I read, Baldwins works came right in the middle of that. His works struck a chord with me and played on a favorite trope of mine -- struggle and pain but everlasting endurance and perseverance. It may sound strange but I love to read about people, or characters, struggling and enduring the struggle. I appreciate their strength and hope that I, too, can have strength in my own struggles. It motivates and inspires me.
Baldwin is a treasured author and not because he is African American, but because he wrote about real things, things that masses could relate to, things that made people think and feel. So, during this Black History Month I challenge you to read one of his short stories-- not because of his ethnicity but because he writes honestly and beautifully, and this is really all we can ask of our author-folk.
Please enjoy a short reading by Baldwin of "The Price of the Ticket," below: