Monday Open Thread | James Baldwin Week

Posted on February 13, 2017 by rikyrah

Happy Monday, Everyone. This week’s featured artist is Mr. James Baldwin. We’ll look at some of his most acclaimed writings, essays, novels, and TV/radio addresses.

james-baldwin-9196635-2-402

images-2

James Baldwin was an essayist, playwright and novelist regarded as a highly insightful,    iconic writer with works like The Fire Next Time and Another Country.

Born on August 2, 1924, in New York City, James Baldwin published the 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain, going on to garner acclaim for his insights on race, spirituality and humanity. Other novels included Giovanni’s Room, Another Country and Just Above My Head as well as essay works like Notes of a Native Son and The Fire Next Time. Having lived in France, he died on December 1, 1987 in Saint-Paul de Vence.

Writer and playwright James Baldwin was born August 2, 1924, in Harlem, New York. One of the 20th century’s greatest writers, Baldwin broke new literary ground with the exploration of racial and social issues in his many works. He was especially well known for his essays on the black experience in America.

Baldwin was born to a young single mother, Emma Jones, at Harlem Hospital. She reportedly never told him the name of his biological father. Jones married a Baptist minister named David Baldwin when James was about three years old. Despite their strained relationship, he followed in his stepfather’s footsteps—who he always referred to as his father—during his early teen years. He served as a youth minister in a Harlem Pentecostal church from the ages of 14 to 16.

Baldwin developed a passion for reading at an early age, and demonstrated a gift for writing during his school years. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where he worked on the school’s magazine with future famous photographer Richard Avedon. He published numerous poems, short stories and plays in the magazine, and his early work showed an understanding for sophisticated literary devices in a writer of such a young age.

images

Go Tell It on the Mountain is a 1953 semi-autobiographical novel by James Baldwin. It tells the story of John Grimes, an intelligent teenager in 1930s Harlem, and his relationship to his family and his church. The novel also reveals the back stories of John’s mother, his biological father, and his violent, religious fanatic step-father, Gabriel Grimes.

The novel focuses on the role of the Pentecostal Church in the lives of African-Americans, as a negative source of repression and moral hypocrisy and also as a positive source of inspiration and community. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Go Tell It on the Mountain 39th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. Time Magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.[1]

This entry was posted in African Americans, Arts, Black History, Books, Civil Rights, Current Events, Education, Freedom, History, Human Rights, Media, Movies, News, Open Thread, Politics, Racism and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

47 Responses to Monday Open Thread | James Baldwin Week

  1. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 13, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    Breaking News: National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned.

    Reply
  2. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 13, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Omarosa, Stay In Your Lane

    Reply
  3. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 13, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    Wait…. Wait… Hold up! Omarosa threatened @AprilDRyan? Oh no she didn’t?

    https://twitter.com/mlcalderone/status/831321236332494850

    Reply
  5. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 13, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    Chicas!

    James Russell points to blood spots on the sidewalk in front of Frank Ancona’s house

    https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/831325993541500930

    Reply
  8. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 7:03 pm

    From Silverman at BJ about the lack of security in Florida:

    As I’ve stated here before: the President has the final say on
    classification/declassification and who can and cannot access classified information. If he decides that classified information needs to be shared with an allied head of state, then that information will be
    shared. That is not necessarily what is at issue here. Rather it is the
    manner in which this was done. No one, not the National Security Advisor who spent his career as a Military Intelligence officer, nor the Chief Strategist who served in the US Navy through the rank of lieutenant (O3), nor any other official with the President yesterday did anything to safeguard critical information – classified or unclassified. Rather they used their unclassified and unsecured cell phones/smart phones to illuminate the documents that the President and Prime Minister Abe were reviewing because there was insufficient lighting in the Mar a Lago dining room. Moreover, this was in full view of members of the club and their guests who were dining at Mar a Lago on Saturday night, as well as the Mar a Lago dining room staff.

    Had the North Korean government conducted a missile launch/missile
    test while the President was hosting Prime Minister Abe at Camp David, and should the President have decided that Prime Minister Abe should be read on to the information that US intelligence had gathered on the launch, there are appropriate facilities – a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) – on site. This is not the case at Mar a Lago. And while there may be plans to install one at Mar a Lago, what was observed Saturday night shows that Information and Operations Security are not being observed by the President and his senior advisors.

    Reply
  11. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    Jerry Sandusky’s son arrested on child sex charges in Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania state police have arrested Jeffrey Sandusky, the 41-year old son of disgraced Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and charged him with 14 counts of sexual offenses involving children.

    Among the charges Jeffrey Sandusky is facing are criminal solicitation and corruption of minors, according to the Associated Press, which reports his bail has been set at $200,000.

    According to to WKRN, police began investigating Sandusky in November 2016 after a child of a mother with whom Sandusky was dating and living, claimed that he had received explicit text messages asking for naked photographs. The child reportedly informed his father, who passed the claims to the police.

    Sandusky was arraigned in Pennsylvania court on Monday afternoon and been prohibited from contact with any minors

    Reply
  13. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    Luvvie is back with a few questions about the Grammys.

    I Got Questions about the 2017 GRAMMYs: Recap

    Yesterday was the biggest night in music: the GRAMMY Awards. The one thing we can count on is a rollercoaster of thrills and disappointments. And many performances that make me take the time to go to the kitchen to re-up on snacks. It was hosted by James Corden of car karaoke fame.

    Anywho, I have questions.

    …………………………………………….

    * Does Ryan Seacrest have more titles than a car dealership? He was announced as being on the Board of the GRAMMYS and all I could think of was how impeccable his grind is. Just unfuckwitable.

    * Did Beyoncé not steal your heart?? My goodness. That performance. Yes, the intro ran so long that I wondered if she’d have the twins by the time she got started. But seeing her on that stage, giving Oshun fever and Vishnu tease with angel vibes gave me what I needed. Beyonce was like “you heaux said I wasn’t really pregnant last time. GET INTO MY MATERNAL GLOW.” It was truly the most beautiful she has ever looked. Red Petunia and Purple Hibiscus got her looking like a Goddess.

    Lemme pause here to make a quick PSA. I DON’T WANNA SEE ANY THINKPIECES FROM WHITE FOLKS CRITIQUING BEYONCE’S GRAMMYS PERFORMANCE. We don’t wanna hear it, read it, see it. This is the time to use that “shutting the hell up is free” coupon code. It never expires. Shut it up. Her performance was not really giving a fuck about the white gaze, and the entire LEMONADE album didn’t either.

    White people gotta get comfortable with the fact that everything ain’t for them, Some things will even exclude them COMPLETELY. That is fine. Deal. And imagine if 90% of the shit that is supposed to represent POPULAR culture excludes you. see: the lives of people of color, LGBTQ people etc. So yeah.

    * How much running man will my ovaries do at the sight of Blue Ivy? First of all, her parents decided to dress her as Prince, in this pink tuxedo with ruffled shirt.

    Reply
  14. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:44 pm

    The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama sent out an email to former White House interns on Friday, announcing that they were launching a 16-week internship program in D.C.

    The email said responsibilities would include a variety of tasks, with an emphasis on correspondence duties. The internship will run from Feb. 27 through June 16.

    Reply
  23. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    President Donald Trump cancels planned visit to Northeast Ohio

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will not visit Northeast Ohio this week, Ohio members of Congress have been told.

    The White House put out an advisory last week last that indicated Trump would visit Vienna, Ohio on Thursday to sign a bill and deliver a speech. The White House has not indicated why the planned visit was scrapped…

    Reply
  24. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:25 pm

    Adam SchiffVerified account‏@RepAdamSchiff

    Let’s not forget Flynn attacked his predecessor, Susan Rice, relentlessly, falsely and unjustly for misleading on Benghazi. He needs to go.

    Reply
  26. Ametia says:
    February 13, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    Has #45 stupid supporters figured out he’s using the office of the POTUS purely for his personal-financial gains? And the GOP are letting him have his cake and eat it too.

    And thus him hanging out at his private clubs with international leaders, talking shop about our national security, while dinning with folks who don’t have NATIONAL SECURITY CLEARANCE. And the guy carrying the nuclear codes in photo ops with Trump’s cohorts.

    UNFUCKING REAL.

    Reply
  31. Ametia says:
    February 13, 2017 at 11:35 am
    Reply
  36. SouthernGirl2 says:
    February 13, 2017 at 10:03 am

    I know you’ve been busy, folks. But pls help little 3yr old Jackson.

    My daughter’s friend’s little boy has been diagnosed with leukemia. It’s so heartbreaking. Jackson will be in and out of the hospital for chemo therapy. Please help this family out with whatever you can. I’m asking our 3ChicsPolitico friends, commenters, readers and followers to help save Jackson’s life. This includes you too our international following community. Please help give this little boy a chance to live.

    https://www.gofundme.com/help-jackson-fight-cancer

    jackson-fight-against-cancer

    jackson-fight-against-cancer-2

    Reply
  37. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:36 am

    Reading Baldwin changed my life

    Reply
  38. rikyrah says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:35 am

    Good Morning, Everyone😐😐😐

    Reply
  39. blackleaderanalysis says:
    February 13, 2017 at 6:17 am

    Great Post. I am a huge Baldwin fan.

    Reply

Leave a Reply