If you’ve never read a book by James Baldwin, I recommend his work to you. His insight on American culture is invaluable. I wish his sentiments did not hold true in the present day, but here we are on January 20th, 2025 with a white supremacist administration officially taking office on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. One book comes to mind in this circumstance:
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
SYNOPSIS
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin is a powerful collection of two personal essays that delve deeply into the complexities of race and racial injustice in America, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement, where Baldwin passionately addresses the systemic issues faced by Black people through a combination of personal experiences and direct appeals to white Americans to confront their own prejudices and actively work towards change; the title draws from a spiritual, warning that if societal issues aren't addressed, a catastrophic "fire" will follow. The Fire Next Time is a stirring, intimate reflection on the nature of race and American nationhood that has inspired generations of writers and thinkers.
There are a couple of quotes that call to me every time I’ve read this book.
“A bill is coming in that I fear America is not prepared to pay.”
“They had the judges, the juries, the shotguns, the law – in a word, power. But it was criminal power, to be feared but not respected, and to be outwitted in any way whatever.”
Since our society and government have not addressed the issues of our past, they continue to haunt our present. As always, connecting with our communities and providing mutual aid will be how we survive and fight for our future. I don’t have all of the answers, but I know I will continue to provide information to as many people as possible.
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