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The Fire Next Time

James Baldwin

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion: Monthly Bonus Reads

Why we're reading this: February Bonus Read- Black History Month

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
[close] February Bonus Read- Black History Month

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

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Sep 08, 2020 Jeanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: african-african-american, memoir-biography, classics, read-2020

You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger. (p. 4).

I was recently on a call where we were talking about microaggressions. One of the other callers questioned the validity of microaggressions, as they are poorly predictive of actual aggression. I know that I react (more than I should) to negative gender-related comments. My husband and I work in the same department and, at this point in time, I have more power and prestige. I notice, though, wh You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger. (p. 4).

I was recently on a call where we were talking about microaggressions. One of the other callers questioned the validity of microaggressions, as they are poorly predictive of actual aggression. I know that I react (more than I should) to negative gender-related comments. My husband and I work in the same department and, at this point in time, I have more power and prestige. I notice, though, when people direct comments to him rather than me. There are times and places where I get stuck on these messages – and then think and work less clearly.

I suspect that my colleague is correct about the predictive value of microaggressions on aggression, but the research that interests me (and most people) is that between microaggressions and mental and physical health outcomes.

I've needed to write about my colleague's comments, as I respect him and his work – and his later comments in our discussion clearly indicated that he is committed to social and racial justice; nonetheless, he seemed to miss the boat on this issue. Maybe he has one truth, but (from my perspective) missed the larger one.

You were born where you were born and faced the future that you faced because you were black and for no other reason. The limits of your ambition were, thus, expected to be set forever. You were born into a society which spelled out with brutal clarity, and in as many ways as possible, that you were a worthless human being. You were not expected to aspire to excellence: you were expected to make peace with mediocrity. (p. 7)

Baldwin is an interesting and thoughtful writer, one raising novel ideas, but I'd like to spend a week (a month? more?) talking about these essays with friends and colleagues. Baldwin's writing is engaging, but also dense, with paragraphs extending more than a page. I can be a lazy reader and appreciate long sentences more when they are part of shorter, more manageable paragraphs. Paragraphs with several less connected ideas cause me to catch some "trees" but miss the "forest."

I should circle back to these essays in the near future.

The Fire Next Time is comprised of two pieces, one of which is a letter to his nephew, the other a longer essay on race, an essay that considers the problems that most whites and some Blacks have in thinking about and addressing race. I like that he recognized that racial understanding and misunderstandings cross racial lines – for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless, Baldwin was discouraged about whether there can be simple band-aids to address systemic racism.

So am I.

Do I really want to be integrated into a burning house? (p. 94). ...more

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Mar 15, 2018 Maya B rated it really liked it

Shelves: african-american-books

Baldwin is one of those authors that I'm glad I waited until I was older to read. He writes with such wisdom. Everything he says resonates with me. Impeccable! ...more

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Jun 25, 2018 Frank García rated it really liked it

Always loved Baldwin. Great text that pushes back on integration politics of the civil rights era. Probs one of best lines I have ever read: “Why would I want to integrate into a burning house?”

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Nov 08, 2023 Alana rated it really liked it

Shelves: political, educational, philosophy

A short but VERY dense work, deep in philosophy. There is much personal and cultural reflection and probably needs at least a couple of readings to really ponder it all. I don't agree with all of his reflections on religion, but I certainly understand them. The viewpoints on a separate nation were actually very well thought-out and enlightening. ...more

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