The Fire Next Time in Around the World in 80 Books

Jan 08, 2016 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: male-author, book-club

The Fire Next Time is a 1963 book by James Baldwin that contains two essays: the first being a shorter letter Baldwin writes to his nephew on the one hundredth anniversary of Emancipation, and the second being a discussion of race in America, particularly as it relates to religion, both Christianity and the Nation of Islam.

Baldwin is an incredible writer. He is direct and honest in his discussion of race, yet also poetic. His letter to is nephew is heartbreaking, as he expresses his love for hi ...more

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Feb 05, 2019 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: social-issues-social-sciences, essays

... civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless.

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Feb 04, 2017 Jen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: popular-nonfiction, books-that-changed-me

I feel blown away by this essay, mostly because unfortunately it is still mostly true. Baldwin delves into the psychology of American race relations and explains how America has never come to terms with the legacy of slavery and until we do, we cannot move forward. It seems that 55 years later, we are still treading water in that same place. It is striking to me how relevant this still is and how our modern politics reflect this so clearly. This is a book that everyone should read. Some of the q ...more

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