Born on this day: James Baldwin Although he spent a great deal
of his life abroad, James Baldwin always remained a
quintessentially American writer. Whether he was working in
Paris or Istanbul, he never ceased to reflect on his experience
as a black man in white America. In numerous essays, novels,
plays, and public speeches, the eloquent voice of James Baldwin
spoke of the pain and struggle of black Americans and the saving
power of brotherhood. James Baldwin was born in Harlem in 1924.
The oldest of nine children, he grew up in poverty, developing a
troubled relationship with his strict, religious father. As a
child, he cast about for a way to escape his circumstances. As
he recalls, I knew I was black, of course, but I also knew I was
smart. I didn’t know how I would use my mind, or even if I
could, but that was the only thing I had to use. By the time he
was fourteen, Baldwin was spending much of his time in libraries
and had found his passion for writing. During this early part of
his life, he followed i