August 2, 2024 would have been the 100th birthday of James Baldwin. Now, more than ever, his words and ideas shape our discourse on race and identity. From Black Lives Matter, to American democracy, to sexuality, Baldwin is often quoted for his prophetic insight into the racial, cultural, and moral struggles of the American nation. This course will examine the resurgence of interest in Baldwin’s work through select critical and imaginative texts: two collections of essays, Notes of a Native Son (1955) and The Fire Next Time (1963), his 1956 novel Giovanni’s Room (202 pp.), and his controversial short story “Going to Meet the Man” (1965). The class will also explore contemporary critical discourses around Baldwin, including Raoul Peck’s 2014 documentary I Am Not Your Negro.

TOPICS

• Baldwin on the idea of the American nation.
• Baldwin on race and democracy.
• Baldwin on identity, with specific focus on American identity and sexuality.
• Baldwin’s resurgence in contemporary times.

REQUIRED READING

Texts are widely available as pdfs on the internet or in used copies available from booksellers. Any edition will do. Please acquire all texts before the class begins. Prior to our first meeting, read the essays: “Autobiographical Notes,” “Everybody’s Protest Novel,” “Notes of a Native Son,” and “Stranger in the Village” from the anthology Notes of a Native Son.

• Notes of a Native Son
• Giovanni’s Room
• The Fire Next Time
• “Going to Meet the Man”

RECOMMENDED VIEWING
I Am Not Your Negro. We will view clips from the documentary in class; the whole film is streamable from Netflix, Hulu, Hoopla, and Amazon Prime.