James Baldwin was an American writer and professor born in 1924 in Harlem, New York. He was best known for his novels, plays, and essays exploring racial and sexual issues in mid-20th century America. Some of his most famous works that focused on themes of racism, segregation, and black identity include Go Tell It on the Mountain, Notes of a Native Son, The Fire Next Time, and Blues for Mister Charlie. Baldwin's writings sought to educate Americans about the black experience and promote a more unified, just society despite facing racial injustices and social problems during his lifetime. He died in 1987 in France.

1. James Baldwin
Biographical Report
by Frantz Bruno
Occupation: Writer and Professor at Universities
Birth Date: August 02, 1924
Death Date: December 01, 1987
Education: DeWitt Clinton High School, The New School
Place of Birth: Harlem Hospital, New York City
Place Of Death: Saint-Paul de Vence, France
Context Of Writing:
James Baldwin was best known
as a novelist and playwright
who wrote about racial and
sexual issues in the mid-20th
century, especially pertaining
to black in America.
Some of Baldwin’s Famous Works:
 Go Tell It on the Mountain was Baldwin first Novel (1953).
 The Amen corner (Play; 1954).
 Giovanni’s Room was the Second Novel (1956).
Race in James Baldwin Literary Works:

2. As we reflect on James Baldwin own life experience as a black
African-American; the life experience of his fellow black
African-Americans in the context of the mid-20 century
segregation period and also the emergence of the civil rights
movement; race became a major subject in his works and by the
way “a compelling and relevant Area” to Understand his
Writing. In fact, his fame is associated with such racial works
like:
 Notes of a Native Son (Essay; 1955)
 Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son (Essay;
1961)
 The fire Next Time (Essay; 1963)
was notorious in terms of educating white American folks on
what it meant to be black and also a realistic view of race
relations. Indeed, “both black and white, should attack the
terrible legacy of racism.”
 Blues for Mister Charlie (Play; 1964)
 Tell Me How Long the train’s Been Gone (Novel; 1968)

3. In such Literary works we can see the reminiscence of some
popular themes like sexuality, family and black experience or
rather racial identity.
 Sunny’s Blues (1957), a piece from the collection:
Published in 1965, focuses on the “sufferings of black people
in America”. Again, we see the recurrence to the themes of
Racism and Segregation as paramount to his writings in line
with the societal framework of the era.
Overall, we see that while James Baldwin seems to “despair
about racial situation” and social injustices he saw during his
life-time, his literary works do not reflect any sign of
“apparent disillusion”. Instead, through his writings he
endeavors to promote a more unified American culture.

4. Works Cited
“James Baldwin.” 2012. Biography.com 05 Jul 2012, 10:52
<http://www.biography.com/people/james-baldwin-9196635>
Sonny’s Blues.Wikipedia.Web.7, July.2012.
<http://upload.wikipedia.org/wikipedia/>
Baldwin, James (Arthur). “Contemporary Popular Writers”. Ed. Dave Mote. Detroit: St.
James Press, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 6, July. 2012.
<http://go.galegroup.com.libdatabase.newpaltz.edu/ps/>
Baldwin, James (Arthur). “Contemporary Literary Criticism Select”. Detroit: Gale, 2008.
Literature Resource Center. Web. 6, July.2012.
<http://go.galegroup.com.libdatabase.newpaltz.edu/ps/>