Reviews with content warning for Slavery - The Fire Next Time

We should be mentioning James Baldwin every time someone makes a list of the great American writers. He's so wise and compassionate, so insightful and so eloquent. I only wish this book wasn't still so fresh and relevant as it was when it was written.
As an aside, I almost died when he was talking to the kid from the separatist movement.
Baldwin: So, when all the black people move out of the U.S., and form a new Black Muslim country, what will the economy of this new Black Muslim country be based on? Is there a plan for that?
The kid: *blank stare*
(Apparently no one but Baldwin thought to ask about that kind of thing...) LOL

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

3.25

a succinct, reflective, nod-inviting, oft thought-provoking and searing read, the fire next time offers an insightful personal window into baldwin yet reflects america's deep-rooted structural problem of white patriarchy as a whole.

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samugranjo's review against another edition

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hopeful informative reflective

4.5

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arkwen452's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Listen to this audiobook, I found that there are a lot of similarities that Baldwin describes based on the Harlem. He lived in then and the world that we live in today. I guess I should not be surprised, considering the slow progression of society, and its lack of acceptance of the African-American people, regardless his words were Aunt and impactful; it was like visualizing him speaking about the present day in our society. He makes a lot of great points regarding society, the erasure of the global majority and the dangers of Christianity as it spread throughout the world, but most importantly, on the African-American people.

It also had me thinking about what's currently happening in Palestine, and it made me question methods or ways that I or individuals of present day could organize to come up with ways for there to be a better present and future for all people. Baldwin has a strong sense of his place in society, particularly as a black man but also he has a strong sense of himself when it comes to how he dealt with the racism, but also how he saw other individuals made the white people and for him to have this level of perspective and objectivity against The singular ideas, a lot of the activist from that time had I was very very memorable and Inspiring.

His words are thought-provoking, but not in a way that it's fear, mongering or forceful persuasion to Annette violence or fictitious retaliation; I know there's a lot of people today, who would not have such a level head when dealing with the oppression and belittle, mints, and treatment of the African-American people, and the global minority when it comes to the white extremist community who can be vile, crude and dismissive.

This might be my first Baldwin read; I wish to read more of this Works and I want to re-read this book because there were several quotes that I enjoyed and that's stuck with me while I was listening to this audiobook. This is definitely a book that needs to go on my forever reread list.

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jessereadsthings's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

3.0

Not my favorite Baldwin, but a really interesting book. Need to reread in future.

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the_vegan_bookworm's review

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reflective fast-paced

3.75

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