James Baldwin

Challenged racial and social injustice through transformative literature and activism

James Baldwin (1924–1987) was an African American writer and activist whose works exposed the deep-seated racial tensions in America. His seminal essays, such as Notes of a Native Son, and novels like Go Tell It on the Mountain, explored themes of identity, sexuality, and systemic oppression. Baldwin's fearless critiques of racism in works like The Fire Next Time (1963) made him a leading voice in the Civil Rights Movement.

Living as an expatriate in France, Baldwin gained a unique perspective on American society, which he articulated in debates with figures like William F. Buckley Jr.. His 1963 CBS interview highlighted the psychological toll of racism, while his collaborations with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X bridged ideological divides.

Baldwin's legacy endures through films like I Am Not Your Negro (2016), which adapts his unfinished manuscript. His intersectional approach to justice continues to inspire movements for equality worldwide.