Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own – Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

This book perfectly parallels James Baldwin’s writings to the turmoil that existed throughout his career. It demonstrates how his works were strategically influenced by his relationships with Civil Rights pioneers and his personal reckoning with racism.

His beliefs that senses of self, society and history along with hard work is the basis of self-creation – especially as a Black person in America, transformed his writing style as he himself adapted through the triumphs but mostly pitfalls of life, personally and professionally. Deemed “the pen of the Civil Rights Movement,” he often found himself in favor and at odds with the leaders of the era.

Throughout his career, Baldwin was enamored with the aspect of love., believing it to be the root of existence. In the battle against racism, he notes, violence is inevitable and often times expected but, don’t strike with hate, blows shouldn’t be delivered with a malevolent conscious. Anger yes, defense yes, but still, love your enemy. But as time wore on, so did the effects of racism and the burgeoning weight it bestows on its victims.

Pride and anguish. Some say the turning point in Baldwin’s career was the image of Dorothy Counts [alone] walking to school as one of the first Black children to integrate Harding High School. Being spat upon, verbally assaulted and most importantly, unprotected, motivated James to leave France (he would live abroad to get away from America) and return to the states. His writings since that decision reveal his new outlook towards America and further developed his literary career.

James Baldwin, a voice of a generation that’s still relevant today, revealed the anger and love that’s necessary in order to transform America for the better. He believed that, and wrote that, and his works are just as relevant today as then.

“For white people in this country, “America” is an identity worth protecting at any cost.” – James Baldwin.