Reading Notes W14: Baldwin, Part A

Throughout my life I've read and researched various information about James Baldwin. In particular, last summer during a literature course at Los Medanos College a portion of a literary figure presentation was dedicated to this legendary 20th century literary figure. Whether it be the various novels/essays he wrote that commented in some form or fashion on the black experience during his time period; dealing with the injustices and racial inequality, he is one of the most influential minority artists in history. This is encapsulated in the following from The Norton Anthology of World Literature Volume F which is a dedicated section to Baldwin's past and writing style: "a leading African American novelist, James Baldwin was one of the great prose stylists of the twentieth century. He is best known for his remarkable essays that, in poetic rhetoric drawing on both the classics of English literature and the tones of biblical prophecy, combine personal reflection with a wider view of social justice" (735). The literary piece offered within this volume is "Notes of a Native Son. This piece weaves together the experiences of loss (his step father), birth (his brother) and communal chaos into a subtle commentary when examining the racial riots and inequalities prevalent during this time. This is evidenced in the following quote: "While it offers a profound meditation on a relationship between a son and a father who was both physically and mentally ill, the essay explains how both men's encounters with racial discrimination contributed to the conflicts in their private lives" (736). With all of this considered, here are some specifics that proceeded to draw me in while reading this work:

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