James Balwin Author/Poet with also the acception as a playwriter, novelist, activist and civil rights motivater was born on August 2, 1924 who was born and raised in Harlem, New York. The only child of a single mother by the name of Emmis Berdis, His mother soon after married a Preacher named David Balwin who adopted james. James and His Stepfather David didnt always get along or see eye to eye as they lived together. Baldwin beganed to find interest in church and what seeing that his stepfather was an preacher himself. James attended a pregitious high school "DeWitt Clinton High School". By the age of 14 he joined the penecostal church then after becoming a penecostal preacher.
Once James turned 17 years old, He put aside his religion and moved to greenwich villiage. New York City where most influencial writer and artists lived. In order for him to live he often did strange jobs. but he began write poetry, short stories and essays to keep him forward.
However baldwin beganned to question and recognize his sexuality, finding out later that he was interested in men. In 1948, disillisioned by american prejuice against African Americans and homosexuality became a big issue.
Baldwin left the United States to live most of his life in Paris, France. By that time james began to be influenced by the likes of Author, Richard Wright. Which also inspired his book "Notes Of A Native Son" in 1955. in reference to Richard Wright's Native Son". James Baldwin once said that Richard was "the greatest black writer in the world for me". But briefly their relationship ended due to James lack of creativity insisting that Baldwin's 1949 essay "Everybody's Protest Novel" ended the two authors' friendship because Baldwin asserted that Wright's novel Native Son, like
Harriet Beecher Stowe's
Uncle Tom's Cabin, lacked credible characters and psychological complexity. However, during an interview with Julius Lester James Baldwin felt that whatever issues Richard and himself had was not to attack each other. He loved him dearly and adored him. Which He Quoted "I knew Richard and I loved him. I was not attacking him; I was trying to clarify something for myself."
1949 was also the year that James baldwin fell in love. with an model by the name of
Lucien Happsberger. he was the age of 17 and the two became very intimate. Until after the two split up and three later balwin fount out that he had gotten married which crushed baldwin.
Baldwin became interested with
African American Painter Beauford Dalaney which james quoted that "
Perhaps I should not say, flatly, what I believe – that he is a great painter – among the very greatest; but I do know that great art can only be created out of love, and that no greater lover has ever held a brush. In
The Price of the Ticket (1985), Baldwin describes Delaney as "the first living proof, for me, that a black man could be an artist. In a warmer time, a less blasphemous place, he would have been recognized as my teacher and I as his pupil. He became, for me, an example of courage and integrity, humility and passion. An absolute integrity: I saw him shaken many times and I lived to see him broken but I never saw him bow."
Later Baldwin Became a mentor for Singer/Pianist Nina Simone Which was one of his close friends. He also made Nina aware of the civil rights movemebt along with
Writer/Poet Langston Hughes And
Writer Lorraine Hansberry. James became responsible for giving her literary work and soon later was credited for her later on work.
Maya Angelou called Baldwin her "friend and brother", and credited him for "setting the stage" for the writing of her 1969 autobiography,
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
In
November 30,
1987 Baldwin died from
stomach cancer in
Saint-Paul-de-Varces. He was buried on
Ferncliff Cemetery in
Hartsdale,
New York City. He Left behind his many works including "Go Tell It On The Mountain" (1953), "Notes To A Native Son" (1955), "Giovonni's Room"(1956), "Just Above My Head"(1979), "Jimmy's Blues"(1983) and many more.
James Baldwin Plays a major part in Black History Month. Get to know the man himself who went through alot to get where he had to be. Be Inspired, Be Motivated Because only you can believe in your dreams.
