The Fire Next Time
At once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin's early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document from the iconic author of If Beale Street Could Talk and Go Tell It on the Mountain. It consists of two "letters," written on the occasion of the centen...show more
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Baldwin wrote with such a unique cadence that it's hard not to imagine sitting next him hearing him speak the words. His message is even more powerful because of that. He held nothing back, and I have no doubt that some people will be unwilling to hear his message because of that. Yet, as he pointed out in his essay, delivering a painful truth is an act of love. One I deeply appreciate having been given.
Powerful. Thought-provoking. Baldwin speaks eloquently about racial transitions in the U.S. in the context of his own lives experiences with Christian and Islamic faiths.
Beyond the overall messages, which are themselves very well communicated, there are so many brilliant gems in this short book. The letter at the beginning is wonderful, and a good introduction to the rest. Then there's a very autobiographical section which is interesting, but the second half of the book is my favorite portion. I didn't put it down until I was done and it was well worth rereading.
WONDERFUL! Everyone-White,Black, Latino, etc..- should read this book! This is my first time reading James Baldwin and I️ can say, though he is complex, he definitely speaks volumes-even in death! Loved this!
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