Begin Again by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. - 4 stars (Subdue)

[Joy D]

Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. - 3/13/23 - 4* - My Review

“In writing this book, I wanted to understand more fully how Baldwin navigated his disappointments, how he lived his refusal to chase windmills any longer, and how he maintained his faith that all of us… could still be better. I needed to understand how he harnessed his rage and lived his faith.”

This book is part biography, literary analysis, memoir, social commentary, and history. Glaude looks at America’s racism through the lens of Baldwin’s writings and activism. Glaude points out the vast swings between efforts that support positive change toward racial equality with periods that maintain the status quo. He explores Baldwin’s views and analyzes how they changed over time. He relates them to contemporary American society. Glaude comes across as an eloquent and passionate spokesperson for Baldwin’s ideas. Definitely worth reading if you are interested in the history of racial issues in the US and what we can do about it.

“In our time, with so much hatred and venom in our politics and our culture, we must actively cultivate communities of love that allow us to imagine different ways of being together.”