Tag Archives: James Baldwin

Tim Scott’s Self-Debasement

Sen. Tim Scott’s self-abasement before Donald Trump brings to mind various “Uncle Tom” poems written by Black authors.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

On Falling Leaves and Letting Go

In falling leaves, Clifton finds a graceful faith in letting go. It is a continuing theme for her.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Baldwin, Cop Sadism, and MAGA

In “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Baldwin captures cop sadism of the sort we also seen in Trump supporters.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Hang Together or Go Under

A James Baldwin prose poem alerts u to resources we have to resist the darkness that threatens us.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

What Baldwin Would Make of Barr

William Barr’s recent comments to police officers reveal an attitude toward people of color that James Baldwin would recognize instantly.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Comments closed

Reading during the Shutdown

Monday The United States has finally come to its senses and reopened the government, but while we were stumbling through our presidential temper tantrum, a couple of publications talked about the salutary effects of reading. A Washington Post article recounted stories of furloughed workers plunging into books, and a Nation article argued that fiction is […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Baldwin on Making Education Relevant

Baldwin’s “Essays to Teachers” reminds them of what education should really be about.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Act in All Things as Love Will Prompt

My lectures on Flannery O’Connor, James Baldwin, Shakespeare and Sophocles all seem to track back to Lent these days.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

“Sonny’s Blues,” Transcendent Moments

In “Sonny’s Blues, art wars with the world’s darkness and promises momentary relief.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed