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novella42's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Islamophobia, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, and Xenophobia
samugranjo's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Police brutality, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug use and Sexual violence
arkwen452's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexism, Slavery, and Islamophobia
the_vegan_bookworm's review
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Slavery and Religious bigotry
mattyvreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
One of the most important pieces of literature ever written. It is comprehensive, straightforward, and thought-provoking. Baldwin is a master of his craft.
This is the first Baldwin essay I ever read, and I was breath-taken. He remains one of my favorite authors of all time.
The fact that this essay is written as a letter to his nephew adds yet another layer of humanity and emotionality.
It is horrifying to realize the depth of this essay’s relevance 60 years after it’s publication. It is inconceivable.
This is the first Baldwin essay I ever read, and I was breath-taken. He remains one of my favorite authors of all time.
The fact that this essay is written as a letter to his nephew adds yet another layer of humanity and emotionality.
It is horrifying to realize the depth of this essay’s relevance 60 years after it’s publication. It is inconceivable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality and Religious bigotry
Minor: Homophobia
james1star's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This was my first work by James Baldwin and will certainly not be the last. In these two essays/letters, he perfectly explains the ‘racial nightmare’ in America with such brutal honestly and rawness. It starts with a letter to his then fifteen year old nephew James telling him of his current place in American society as a young black man and how despite being destined to the gutter, he must accept himself and aspire for a better life. Then a much longer piece tells the reader of Baldwin’s experiences of growing up in Harlem with the many racial injustices, his interactions with religion (Christianity and later the Nation of Islam movement) and how we as a society much think about things differently to ever move forward. There are maybe some convoluted or slightly tangental passages but this adds to the human-ness and honesty he puts forward - it’s like he’s talking to you, sharing his thoughts and wisdom… amazing. At its heart, ‘The Fire Next Time’ is a plea to end the legacy of racial injustice that plagued (and still does) America at the time of writing in 1963 and was influential in the growing civil rights movement. Additionally, Baldwin’s grasp on the human condition is put forward with a pin-point accuracy that you can’t help but sit back and take a few moments to really take in. It may seem hard and a little preachy to some extent, but his message of love overcoming hate is what we should be aspiring to. The book has many well penned quotes/passages but these were my favourites - I am likely going to give this a reread and make more notes.
‘But what was the point, the purpose, of my salvation if it did not permit me to behave with love towards others, no matter how they behaved towards me?’
“I love a few people and they love me and some of them are white, and isn't love more important than colour?”
‘Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death - ought to decide, indeed, to earn one's death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible to life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall' return. One must negotiate this passage as nobly as possibly, for the sake of those who are coming after us.’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Hate crime, Slavery, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
milesjmoran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
It's startling to see how very contemporary this book feels even though it came out over 50 years ago. There were many moments that felt like a sucker punch to the gut. Baldwin is a beautiful writer, and he approaches the issue of race with a level head and a mind towards empathy. I was also surprised by how easy this was to read. The language is very elevated, but it at no point felt inaccessible to me. I'm definitely interested in reading some of his fiction now, and I would recommend everyone (but especially every American) read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
There's not a lot of detailed description of horrible things in here, but this book is about race in the time of the civil rights movement, so expect all the usual suspects of that era to be addressed.leannanecdote's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide and War