James Baldwin, Then and Now

What makes James Baldwin, perhaps most amongst any of his peers, still relevant today? Why do some many readers and viewers return to his work in other moments in contemporary history? We will explore these questions in the seminar, taking note that Baldwin was a writer and as such wrote everyday as a practice. We will practice regular writing through journal-keeping as part of our efforts to understand Baldwin’s appeal and relevance. We will use his text The Devil Finds Work (1976), selected essays, and documentaries as our sources for this seminar.