The Fire Next Time

This is a book to read with a pen! My copy, brand new, and fresh from the mailbox now has underlining everywhere and notes filling the margins. The language is beautiful in this book and there is a lot of wisdom to gather. This is my first James Baldwin and I crave more! The book consists of two letters, a short one written to a nephew and a longer one written to discuss his thoughts and feelings about race, religion, and life. This is the most beautiful description in the entire book. I cannot possibly think of a more exquisite way to word how James sees his brother and how we often see those we have watched grow up. "Other people cannot see what I see whenever I look into your father’s face for behind your father’s face as it is today are all those other faces which were his. Let him laugh and I see a cellar your father does not remember and a house he does not remember and I hear in his present laughter his laughter as a child." Baldwin starts his letter by informing his nephew on how black people can be destroyed if they believe what some white people think about them. He discusses a hidden message telling black people to settle for mediocrity rather than striving for excellence. Baldwin believes that black people need to know their history and where they came from so that there will be “no limit to where you can go.” "…We, with love, shall force our brothers to see themselves as they are, to cease fleeing from reality and begin to change it."

Growing up as the daughter of white parents in the Deep South, while my parents did everything in their power to try and keep us from using racial slurs, there was so much racism imbedded in the area that it was nearly impossible to fight it. It ranged from the blatant to the subtle, and it stuck in ways that I will probably be discovering for the rest of my life. Baldwin touches upon the use of religion to control, and the belief that the white man is the marker to which the black man should aspire, and that is still very clear in the world... As black men and women are told that their natural hair should be tamed to make them more appropriate for the work place, that the vernacular of their homes and families is somehow uneducated, even as they are surrounded by people who code-switch from a redneck southern dialect or a tough talking New York slang at home, to proper grammar in the workplace. At the end of the day, no one should aspire to whiteness. Instead, all should aspire to be the best they can be of exactly who they are. This book, brilliantly written, greatly rocked my way of thinking. James Baldwin's grasp of humanity is one of the most realistic I've ever seen. He sees it and tells it just as it is.

I am a huge fan of James Baldwin, this is the third book that I have bought from him. This is by far one of the best books written by him. I am so happy that I chose to buy this book, I do not regret a thing. It truly is astonishing how not much has changed between the races in America since 1963. James Baldwin is such an amazing writer, this book is extremely well written. The use of words in this book are utilized in a way that make you feel as though you are within Baldwin's story. Overall, buy this book if you are interested in learning in the about the history and culture of black individuals during 60s. Also, buy this book if you are interested in reading a quality book with quality writing.

James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time" is more a brilliant, masterfully constructed Supreme Court Opinion than it is a novel. And whereas I truly loved his analysis and opinions of the Negro problem in America, I still prefer his old fashion, novels with the numerous unforgettable characters, boundary breaking storylines, and sublime and poetic writing style. In 2015, my great contemporary literary discovery was Don Delillo; and now in 2017 and 18 my great, contemporary, literary discovery is James Baldwin. Sadly, neither man ever won a Pulitzer prize and unless a miracle happens and they give Mr. DeLillo Nobel Prize neither man would have won a Nobel Peace Prize. Simply too busy giving out the prize to Bob Dylan. "The Fire Next Time" might not be for everyone, but it is, in my opinion, just another wonderful addition and indication of how great a writer and thinker Mr. Baldwin truly was... And forever will be remembered as such.

As readers of my reviews know, I rarely comment on books that are well-known classics (as this is); however, I wanted to write a few lines about this book. First, it is an important historical document. Mr. Baldwin is recording life as he experienced it. I found his description of an evening with Elijah Muhammad endlessly fascinating, as I noted also his comments on Malcolm X before he broke with Muhammad. Second, there is no denying the power and passion in his prose. I have rarely come across an essay/memoir where the fire lights every page, like it does here. One may argue with some of Mr. Baldwin’s observations and conclusions and I do think the world has changed somewhat since this book was written (if, for the better, it is with some thanks to writers like Mr. Baldwin), but this is a book that still has much to offer a reader.

As a voracious reader, there are few books that I have read and at the end felt as though I was a completely different person. Even fewer have moved me to the point of tears. James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time is a book that did both. Before reading thisImage result for the fire next time book, I had only heard of Baldwin in passing and had never read any of his books. My friend and mentor Brad Kramer (who is an anthropologist and professor at Utah Valley University) recommended the book to me so I bought it out of a sense of duty to heed a mentors recommendation. However, I put the book off for a time and did not view it as urgent to read it. Then, while we were having lunch with Brad, he told me that he got similar feelings when reading Baldwin’s book that he did in past times when he was reading the scriptures (he and I are practicing Mormons). This increased my intrigued and I put the book on my list to read in the new year. I am not engaging in hyperbole when I state this book is one of the best that I have ever read. The book takes the form of a long essay divided into two parts. The first portion is Baldwin writing a letter to his fourteen year old nephew. The second (and most important part) is Baldwin’s account of his life as a black man in Harlem and how we as American’s must overcome our racial issues if we are truly to become a great nation. Baldwin, who lived during the Civil Rights Movement, is a much different person than the two men who have come to be the faces of that era: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Dr. King was a Christian minister who saw the movement in terms of the Christian message. Malcolm was a minister in the Nation of Islam (until 1964) and thought that the blacks and whites should be separated and that blacks were superior to whites. Baldwin was somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. He recounts in the essay that he was attracted to Christianity as a youth because of its power to move people and eventually became a Christian minister himself. But, after seeing how the Christian Church was not making progress on the race issue and seeing how it could be used to justify racism, he left Christianity. However, Christianity never left him. In the essay Baldwin comes across with the air of prophet, warning that if change isn’t made the consequences will be dire. Unlike Malcolm, Baldwin did not believe that one place was superior to the other (he says just because something is different does not make it superior or inferior). His message, while spoken in religious terms, does not require adherence to any theology. I will address two key moments in the book, and leave it to the reader to read the book and fill in the rest. While Baldwin was in Chicago, he had the opportunity to meet and have dinner with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. While he ate with Elijah, he was impressed with the power of the man over his followers, but noted that he was disgusted with the Nation’s teachings. While he respected the Nation for making blacks more self-reliant, he could not endorse their racist ideology, which he saw as the same story as what white Americans were doing but in reverse. This spoke to me personally because I also have had the opportunity to be around members of the Nation of Islam, and like Baldwin was more than uncomfortable. The message is counterproductive and nonsensical. The most important part of the good is after Baldwin describes his meeting with the Elijah Muhammad. He states: Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves to totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeple, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have. Baldwin concludes that America needs to become post-racial, meaning that while we can acknowledge that we have differences in skin color, there is no reason to attribute certain characteristics to people due to there skin color. Further, while Baldwin was friends with the aforementioned Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, he also points out that we all need each other; racism has an equally bad effect upon whites as it does upon blacks. In an era where racism still raises its ugly head, The Fire Next Time is a book that all Americans, regardless of color, need to have in their personal library. I plan to read it once a year going forward. A truly wonderful, remarkable book.

Should be required reading for every American. Rarely have I read words of such clarity, elegance and insight in any subject. That Baldwin was able to write in this way about race is a gift to all who wish to heal our deep national wound. And we should all wish to heal it. Every word rings true. Baldwin was that rare person who has a deep understanding of the frailty, nobility and beauty of the human soul. His compassion and humanity shines forth through every brilliant word in this powerful book. He wrote from a place few have been able to attain, sharing home truths without harsh cruelty, but with great clarity and authority. Sadly, what he wrote in 1963 in this book applies to this day: We have not yet learned what he was trying so hard to teach us and we have much left to do. Read this book, let its profound lessons guide you deep into self inquiry, so that you too might understand the nature of your soul, and perhaps become a better human being in the process.

Baldwin describes very personal pre-1970s experiences with racism, including his interactions with Malcom X and Elijah Muhammad, two critical black leaders that white people tended to fear rather than understand. As a white person, the historical context provides a broader perspective regarding the racism of the 2000s. On the one hand, its only been 50 years since the 1965 Civil Rights Act; yet on the other hand, its been 50 years since the Civil Right Act. Generations of older whites were raised in racist families, and unfortunately, subsequent generations of young people have grown up in racist families. How much longer will open racism and unacknowledged racial bias be the rule? An additional Baldwin focus is the frustration and hopelessness of millions of black men who see few occupational and educational opportunities, and have 100s of years of deathly experiences with white law enforcement. Baldwin's letter to his nephew is far superior to Te-Nihisi Coates book.

As someone who "grew up" around the world and in the presence of a rainbow of people and cultures and then became a teacher, this book broke my heart while making it whole. I wish in my wildest dreams that this book was mandatory reading for the world. It speaks to more than just for and to the black american community, it speaks to anyone and everyone who is ready to listen. Baldwin's insights and anecdotes provide a steady glow in the readers mind to be fanned with deep thinking and self reflection. He so perfectly captures my many of my own thoughts, feelings, and musings and elucidates them in ways I have never been able to. I wish I wish I wish I could have had the opportunity to meet this incredible man. The introductory letter from his uncle is proof that this beautifully gifting writing courses through the veins of the Baldwin family. I love this book (it is actually two shorter pieces quilted together and it's perfect).

"The Fire Next Time" is a very deep and personal work about race relations in America, both in general and as it pertains to the author, Jame Baldwin. Personally, I was mesmerized by the work. I found it somewhat painful, therefore to say I "enjoyed it" seems inappropriate. I feel it is excellent and I intend to re read it. The work is comprised of two parts. The first is a letter to his 14 year old nephew. It is not lengthy. The second part is an essay about the youth of the author, religion, and race relations in America. Although written in 1963 at the Centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, it seems as relevant now as in 1963. I study African American literature and culture as a specific interest, but not to the exclusion of other literature. In regard to African American Literature, James Baldwin is high on my personal list of favorite authors after James Weldon Johnson. This particular work is deep and erudite. Mostly it is clearly written. There are some philosophical aspects to this work that I need to mull over and re read. I need to say that many of Mister Baldwin's observations and experiences ring true with me. As a retired police officer, some of the experiences alleged by Mister Baldwin makes me ill. I wish to say I never did anything like what Mister Baldwin describes, I never witnessed anything like he describes, and would not have allowed it. Nonetheless I believe these things happen. On the other hand, Mister Baldwin describes apparent misconduct and no onlookers intervene. That I have witnessed. I feel actual moral courage is in short supply in all matters, not just Race. When I was senior enough to have my own work station, I kept a poem "First They Came for The Jews" by Martin Niemoller on the wall above my desk. In summary, I found this to be a compelling work by an excellent author. There are parts of this work I need to think about. I fully intend to re read the entire work. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.

This is a book to read with a pen! My copy, brand new, and fresh from the mailbox now has underlining everywhere and notes filling the margins. The language is beautiful in this book and there is a lot of wisdom to gather. This is my first James Baldwin and I crave more! The book consists of two letters, a short one written to a nephew and a longer one written to discuss his thoughts and feelings about race, religion, and life. This is the most beautiful description in the entire book. I cannot possibly think of a more exquisite way to word how James sees his brother and how we often see those we have watched grow up. "Other people cannot see what I see whenever I look into your father’s face for behind your father’s face as it is today are all those other faces which were his. Let him laugh and I see a cellar your father does not remember and a house he does not remember and I hear in his present laughter his laughter as a child." Baldwin starts his letter by informing his nephew on how black people can be destroyed if they believe what some white people think about them. He discusses a hidden message telling black people to settle for mediocrity rather than striving for excellence. Baldwin believes that black people need to know their history and where they came from so that there will be “no limit to where you can go.” "…We, with love, shall force our brothers to see themselves as they are, to cease fleeing from reality and begin to change it."

Growing up as the daughter of white parents in the Deep South, while my parents did everything in their power to try and keep us from using racial slurs, there was so much racism imbedded in the area that it was nearly impossible to fight it. It ranged from the blatant to the subtle, and it stuck in ways that I will probably be discovering for the rest of my life. Baldwin touches upon the use of religion to control, and the belief that the white man is the marker to which the black man should aspire, and that is still very clear in the world... As black men and women are told that their natural hair should be tamed to make them more appropriate for the work place, that the vernacular of their homes and families is somehow uneducated, even as they are surrounded by people who code-switch from a redneck southern dialect or a tough talking New York slang at home, to proper grammar in the workplace. At the end of the day, no one should aspire to whiteness. Instead, all should aspire to be the best they can be of exactly who they are. This book, brilliantly written, greatly rocked my way of thinking. James Baldwin's grasp of humanity is one of the most realistic I've ever seen. He sees it and tells it just as it is.

I am a huge fan of James Baldwin, this is the third book that I have bought from him. This is by far one of the best books written by him. I am so happy that I chose to buy this book, I do not regret a thing. It truly is astonishing how not much has changed between the races in America since 1963. James Baldwin is such an amazing writer, this book is extremely well written. The use of words in this book are utilized in a way that make you feel as though you are within Baldwin's story. Overall, buy this book if you are interested in learning in the about the history and culture of black individuals during 60s. Also, buy this book if you are interested in reading a quality book with quality writing.

James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time" is more a brilliant, masterfully constructed Supreme Court Opinion than it is a novel. And whereas I truly loved his analysis and opinions of the Negro problem in America, I still prefer his old fashion, novels with the numerous unforgettable characters, boundary breaking storylines, and sublime and poetic writing style. In 2015, my great contemporary literary discovery was Don Delillo; and now in 2017 and 18 my great, contemporary, literary discovery is James Baldwin. Sadly, neither man ever won a Pulitzer prize and unless a miracle happens and they give Mr. DeLillo Nobel Prize neither man would have won a Nobel Peace Prize. Simply too busy giving out the prize to Bob Dylan. "The Fire Next Time" might not be for everyone, but it is, in my opinion, just another wonderful addition and indication of how great a writer and thinker Mr. Baldwin truly was... And forever will be remembered as such.

As readers of my reviews know, I rarely comment on books that are well-known classics (as this is); however, I wanted to write a few lines about this book. First, it is an important historical document. Mr. Baldwin is recording life as he experienced it. I found his description of an evening with Elijah Muhammad endlessly fascinating, as I noted also his comments on Malcolm X before he broke with Muhammad. Second, there is no denying the power and passion in his prose. I have rarely come across an essay/memoir where the fire lights every page, like it does here. One may argue with some of Mr. Baldwin’s observations and conclusions and I do think the world has changed somewhat since this book was written (if, for the better, it is with some thanks to writers like Mr. Baldwin), but this is a book that still has much to offer a reader.

As a voracious reader, there are few books that I have read and at the end felt as though I was a completely different person. Even fewer have moved me to the point of tears. James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time is a book that did both. Before reading thisImage result for the fire next time book, I had only heard of Baldwin in passing and had never read any of his books. My friend and mentor Brad Kramer (who is an anthropologist and professor at Utah Valley University) recommended the book to me so I bought it out of a sense of duty to heed a mentors recommendation. However, I put the book off for a time and did not view it as urgent to read it. Then, while we were having lunch with Brad, he told me that he got similar feelings when reading Baldwin’s book that he did in past times when he was reading the scriptures (he and I are practicing Mormons). This increased my intrigued and I put the book on my list to read in the new year. I am not engaging in hyperbole when I state this book is one of the best that I have ever read. The book takes the form of a long essay divided into two parts. The first portion is Baldwin writing a letter to his fourteen year old nephew. The second (and most important part) is Baldwin’s account of his life as a black man in Harlem and how we as American’s must overcome our racial issues if we are truly to become a great nation. Baldwin, who lived during the Civil Rights Movement, is a much different person than the two men who have come to be the faces of that era: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Dr. King was a Christian minister who saw the movement in terms of the Christian message. Malcolm was a minister in the Nation of Islam (until 1964) and thought that the blacks and whites should be separated and that blacks were superior to whites. Baldwin was somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. He recounts in the essay that he was attracted to Christianity as a youth because of its power to move people and eventually became a Christian minister himself. But, after seeing how the Christian Church was not making progress on the race issue and seeing how it could be used to justify racism, he left Christianity. However, Christianity never left him. In the essay Baldwin comes across with the air of prophet, warning that if change isn’t made the consequences will be dire. Unlike Malcolm, Baldwin did not believe that one place was superior to the other (he says just because something is different does not make it superior or inferior). His message, while spoken in religious terms, does not require adherence to any theology. I will address two key moments in the book, and leave it to the reader to read the book and fill in the rest. While Baldwin was in Chicago, he had the opportunity to meet and have dinner with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. While he ate with Elijah, he was impressed with the power of the man over his followers, but noted that he was disgusted with the Nation’s teachings. While he respected the Nation for making blacks more self-reliant, he could not endorse their racist ideology, which he saw as the same story as what white Americans were doing but in reverse. This spoke to me personally because I also have had the opportunity to be around members of the Nation of Islam, and like Baldwin was more than uncomfortable. The message is counterproductive and nonsensical. The most important part of the good is after Baldwin describes his meeting with the Elijah Muhammad. He states: Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves to totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeple, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have. Baldwin concludes that America needs to become post-racial, meaning that while we can acknowledge that we have differences in skin color, there is no reason to attribute certain characteristics to people due to there skin color. Further, while Baldwin was friends with the aforementioned Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, he also points out that we all need each other; racism has an equally bad effect upon whites as it does upon blacks. In an era where racism still raises its ugly head, The Fire Next Time is a book that all Americans, regardless of color, need to have in their personal library. I plan to read it once a year going forward. A truly wonderful, remarkable book.

Should be required reading for every American. Rarely have I read words of such clarity, elegance and insight in any subject. That Baldwin was able to write in this way about race is a gift to all who wish to heal our deep national wound. And we should all wish to heal it. Every word rings true. Baldwin was that rare person who has a deep understanding of the frailty, nobility and beauty of the human soul. His compassion and humanity shines forth through every brilliant word in this powerful book. He wrote from a place few have been able to attain, sharing home truths without harsh cruelty, but with great clarity and authority. Sadly, what he wrote in 1963 in this book applies to this day: We have not yet learned what he was trying so hard to teach us and we have much left to do. Read this book, let its profound lessons guide you deep into self inquiry, so that you too might understand the nature of your soul, and perhaps become a better human being in the process.

Baldwin describes very personal pre-1970s experiences with racism, including his interactions with Malcom X and Elijah Muhammad, two critical black leaders that white people tended to fear rather than understand. As a white person, the historical context provides a broader perspective regarding the racism of the 2000s. On the one hand, its only been 50 years since the 1965 Civil Rights Act; yet on the other hand, its been 50 years since the Civil Right Act. Generations of older whites were raised in racist families, and unfortunately, subsequent generations of young people have grown up in racist families. How much longer will open racism and unacknowledged racial bias be the rule? An additional Baldwin focus is the frustration and hopelessness of millions of black men who see few occupational and educational opportunities, and have 100s of years of deathly experiences with white law enforcement. Baldwin's letter to his nephew is far superior to Te-Nihisi Coates book.

As someone who "grew up" around the world and in the presence of a rainbow of people and cultures and then became a teacher, this book broke my heart while making it whole. I wish in my wildest dreams that this book was mandatory reading for the world. It speaks to more than just for and to the black american community, it speaks to anyone and everyone who is ready to listen. Baldwin's insights and anecdotes provide a steady glow in the readers mind to be fanned with deep thinking and self reflection. He so perfectly captures my many of my own thoughts, feelings, and musings and elucidates them in ways I have never been able to. I wish I wish I wish I could have had the opportunity to meet this incredible man. The introductory letter from his uncle is proof that this beautifully gifting writing courses through the veins of the Baldwin family. I love this book (it is actually two shorter pieces quilted together and it's perfect).

"The Fire Next Time" is a very deep and personal work about race relations in America, both in general and as it pertains to the author, Jame Baldwin. Personally, I was mesmerized by the work. I found it somewhat painful, therefore to say I "enjoyed it" seems inappropriate. I feel it is excellent and I intend to re read it. The work is comprised of two parts. The first is a letter to his 14 year old nephew. It is not lengthy. The second part is an essay about the youth of the author, religion, and race relations in America. Although written in 1963 at the Centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, it seems as relevant now as in 1963. I study African American literature and culture as a specific interest, but not to the exclusion of other literature. In regard to African American Literature, James Baldwin is high on my personal list of favorite authors after James Weldon Johnson. This particular work is deep and erudite. Mostly it is clearly written. There are some philosophical aspects to this work that I need to mull over and re read. I need to say that many of Mister Baldwin's observations and experiences ring true with me. As a retired police officer, some of the experiences alleged by Mister Baldwin makes me ill. I wish to say I never did anything like what Mister Baldwin describes, I never witnessed anything like he describes, and would not have allowed it. Nonetheless I believe these things happen. On the other hand, Mister Baldwin describes apparent misconduct and no onlookers intervene. That I have witnessed. I feel actual moral courage is in short supply in all matters, not just Race. When I was senior enough to have my own work station, I kept a poem "First They Came for The Jews" by Martin Niemoller on the wall above my desk. In summary, I found this to be a compelling work by an excellent author. There are parts of this work I need to think about. I fully intend to re read the entire work. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.

I thought of myself as an articulate, deep thinking, and worldly individual, however, after reading how eloquently Mr. James Baldwin captured so perfectly the global (especially American) misconception and political Hippocrates we all face even today, regardless of "colour/color" I know, with great humility, what it feels like to walk amongst literary giants and to acknowledge what a fool I am!

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, reviewed by Jerry Woolpy Ta-Nehisi Coates cited this book as the inspiration for writing We Were Eight Years in Power, which is an updated and historically documented version of Baldwin’s eloquently expressed insights into the American Black situation. A situation that Blacks are in but that few are aware of and about which White Americans are clueless. That’s why all of us would do well to read Baldwin on this point. Race is obviously a blight on American History and a scourge on our democracy. We are reminded that unlike other immigrants who came to America by choice, Africans came in chains starting 400 years ago (coincidentally, the same number of years that the apocryphal Israelites were said to have been enslaved in Egypt). Moreover, the origin in slavery has labeled American Blacks in their minds and in the American culture in ways that neither has been able to overcome. Baldwin dreams the impossible dream that this can be overcome, and that Blacks and Whites will recognize the worthiness of Blacks in a society of equals.

I started reading "The Fire is Upon Us" by Nicholas Buccola, and decided to pause that book in order to read Baldwin's book (the "Fire is Upon Us" focuses on Baldwin's historic debate with William Buckley in 1965). "The Fire Next Time" is essentially a collection of two essays written by Baldwin during the early 1960s. The book examines the idea of what it means to be a black person in America during the 20th century. Baldwin is pulled in multiple directions during the book. First, fear early in his life draws him to Christianity and then eventually away from it. Second, Baldwin outlines his struggles with his life as an African American man in a predominately white society. Lastly, Baldwin ruminates on the idea that racists people should be pitied, because racism eats away at one's ability to truly embrace life. The section in which Baldwin dines with Elijah Muhammad is fascinating, since Baldwin is close to embracing the idea that America does not have a place for the black man and that white people are irredeemably, yet he can't bring himself to conclude that they are "the devil," as Elijah Muhammad refers to them. He refuses to conclude that Elijah Muhammad is correct, and instead says that he understands how someone can think the things he thinks, but that those ideas are not for him.

I felt compelled to read this given the state of America today especially in this political climate I felt it necessary to go back in time and read some of the writings of some of our greatest writers regarding an issue that America refuses to deal with and I'm glad that I did I understand now that this war of race is something that white Americans have perpetuated against people of color from all over the world going back to the dawn of time and until it is addressed honestly and changed in an honest attempt is made by white people in particular to circumvent the disaster that is to come I fear that change will never truly happen this book was a great guideline truly inspirational and if you really want an honest review of what it is like being black in America you need to read this.

James Baldwin's little masterpiece, ( it is barely 100 pages ) is as relevant today as when I first read it in the 1960's. I found that I had to ask, nearly 60 years after it was written: Will America ever heal the gaping wound caused by the horror of its own history? Has the nearly 400 years of the African slave-trade, encompassing routine torture of the black slaves, with unspeakable suffering, heartbreak and pain for them, created a yawning maw of mistrust and fear between the American white and black population, so wide and so impossibly deep, that healing and reconciliation between them is forever impossible?

Since I have lived through the time when Baldwin wrote this book up to this day , I must say he accurately described the past as well as what has come to be. We as a nation have not solved the problem but we do see the distraction of our moral fabric. In the sixties,we thought the race riots were the fire. Now we see the other end of the rainbow as destruction in our spirit. We black people have learned a lot about ourselves and about how power destroys. Our struggle is to keep our inner spirit.

I’d give this book 6 stars if they’d let me. Brilliant, moving, heart rending, and far too true today as it was when it was written. It put a finger on an exposed American nerve and pressed - not to torture but to make us feel and take note. Baldwin was a gift, a magnificent, prophetic, broken gift.

Written in 1963 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, this book tackles Baldwin's struggle with religion and his firsthand observations and experiences with racism. The book is a call to action saying that whites and blacks must rise up to fight back against systemic racism. It's also a heartbreaking firsthand look at black life in Harlem in the 1960s. This is a short book that doesn't take long to read, but the message is as relevant today as it was at first publication.

By the time I was in high school and college, James Baldwin's works may have been considered to be "old news". Or perhaps systemic racism was simply at play and all of my instructors considered only white writers to have written the classics. Whatever the reason I was never directed to his works, I don't know, but I'm glad that I heard someone reading a short excerpt of his work on NPR a couple of years ago. When I heard it, I wrote on my list of books to read "anything by James Baldwin". In "The Fire Next Time", his style is almost a stream on consciousness, complete with sentences that go on for quite some time. But one never seems to feel lost as to what the point is. Perhaps because his use of words is lush, vibrant, palpable and familiar. His prophetic statements still ring true today, which is both unfortunate and fortunate. Unfortunate that nearly 60 years on and we're still wrestling with these demons. Fortunate in that he holds out hope for us blind, deaf and dumb white people.

This was a deeply moving essay (and letter) by Baldwin that illuminates through his musical style the race issues that have plagued America for the last 400 years (when slaves were first brought here). He delves into issues regarding religion and race (both muslim and christian), the realities of growing up in Harlem, philosophical thoughts regarding white Americans, and also a warning to both sides (if things don't get better). Even though this was written in the 60's, I found this piece to be just as relevant today and am of the opinion that this book NEEDS to be read or part of the school curriculum. Baldwin's prose alone would mark him as one of the greatest American writers (in my opinion), but also the richness of his arguments and thoughts make this a hands down must read.

James Baldwin in a genius, of course. Listening to him speak, watching videos, etc., as well as reading this book: he is great to listen to. His voice was prophetic, and nothing he said has been proven untrue. Racism has diminished, but among those who still believe, it is perhaps more virulent. Now we may recognize the pervasive nature of it. With recognition should come more of a fix. It is probably a deeper fix than that of racism: it is structural fixes in the economics. Perhaps that will be the real "cure" for racism: a recognition that differences are based on inquiry more than on color. That quality is measured by one's actions, more than by one's color. It is a book of passion, and well worth the read.

Baldwin’s terse and elegiac pronouncements play like a biographical epiphany across the crowded landscapes of New York down to the dusky and hot country grounds of the South, foretelling a future of clashes and confrontations. James Baldwin is the master of calm, spirit and heat all in one. These two searing assertions are like the biblical proclamations of a seer raised up in the church and well-versed in the Good Book passing down proclamations on a nation that hasn’t learned from past: “No more Water but the Fire next time.”

Searing work by brilliant author. As relevant now as at the time it was published. This book, along with Ta Nehisi Coates book, Between the World and Me should form a part of the curriculum at every high school in the U.S., as well as at every police academy and city hall. Everyone in all branches of our government should be required to read Mr. Baldwin's book. The Respect the Flag crowd and their many (surprisingly young) brethren should read this as a part of their rehabilitation program to enter, for the first time, the diverse United States of America and the humane race.

Essayist and Activist Tim Wise said that James Baldwin is probably the best writer ever on the Black struggle. “The Fire Next Time” is a brilliant book which is James Baldwin’s part memoir part musing about the Black American struggle. One thing he makes patently clear is that whites were being destroyed by the system of racism and oppression just as much as Blacks, just in a different way. He makes incredibly astute observations and assessments. Baldwin also carves out a part of the book to mention his brief time as a preacher and his meeting with Elijah Muhammad in Chicago. “The Fire Next Time” is, if nothing else, a brief snippet of James Baldwin’s brilliance and eloquence.

I don’t believe I have the right nor the resource to adequately give a review about such a titan of a writer as James Baldwin. But I would like to say a few words about what I’ll take with me after reading “The Fire Next Time.” Though it is a truism that we should seek equality for all, Baldwin reframes this goal and, most notably, for White America. In our hasty and ill-gotten road to overwhelming privilege, white people in my position have attempted wrongly to make Black America our equal. The truth is we are far more inept and malicious and weak despite our accumulation of perceived power. History bears this out. Our goal should be to seek inspiration in, provide support to, and attempt to exude the grace of the swath of people we've subjugated for no reason beyond our addiction to power and a persistent pattern of cruelty. The name Baldwin comes from the root words of “Bold/Courageous” and Friend. Though that name was likely given through slave ownership, I’d like to think he’s defined that namesake more truly than it ever was before. Thank you for your words, Mr. Baldwin.

Baldwin's language is well suited to the task of carrying his insights and his passion, and to make clear the ways in which we whites have turned a blind eye toward the truth about our country's racism. The sadness is that so little has changed over 50 years. We may have elected a black president, but our buried and deeply entrenched racism is still vigorous and pervasive. It is the responsibility of whites to educate themselves on this matter, since no number of black voices seems able to do the trick. And there is no shortage of insightful books on the topic. Still, best to begin, or begin again, with The Fire Next Time.

James Baldwin’s writings are beautiful and sobering. It breaks my heart that his musings on race relations are still as relevant today as they were 30 to 40 plus years ago. I wish we still had his voice to turn to in these hard times. But, then that is selfish, for he has found his well deserved peace and it our duty to carry on the good fight. He was a true outspoken hero, that blessedly left his words of wisdom to help guide us. “Good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.

An audacious and clinical dissection of the white American mindset as it relates to its black minority. Evidently, it culminates in a searing revelatory and damning expose of the most ugly truth about that mindset - it’s inner workings, weaknesses, fears, relentless torment (however denied) etc. Fortunately, as a serious-minded essay hinged on deeply insightful analysis, it is, at once, purgatory and redemptive. It proffers solutions so deceptively simple, but honest and workable, that they’ve stood the risk of being rejected since first published. And, to the utter chagrin of well-meaning Americans, have been, largely, rejected ever since. And therefore, for the same reasons, should be a compulsory read for peoples of all colours, and hopefully, approximate the fulcrum around which national atonement and rebirth should revolve, for America.

I found a connection in a lot of what was said. He has provided some in touch with information. I, however, was left wondering a bit about his mission beyond the tell-all how it is in his own words. I felt such pain and an understanding of that pain. I will take the time to read more work.

I love to read great prose and James Baldwin is one of the best. This is a fantastic dissertation on Black and White living conditions in the US. He gives personal history and growth through his life experiences to move from youth to religious devotion to asking more questions about reality and how love can be a bond and vengeance or separatism will not lead to a good solution. Just one must read for all colors and faiths.

During this current situation with the Black Lives Matter movement these essays show us how much we have still to do in our country. It highlights the longsuffering of the African American community and the corruption of the white power structure that is still lingering and operating in our America today

Baldwin’s work is irresistibly compelling and insufferably painful. Baldwin’s pain is that of a visionary whose sight is so clear that no refuge in self-deception is possible. He tells us that inasmuch as white people’s view of black people is the distortion of a false, racist construct, it must necessarily entail self-deception. The misunderstanding of black people by white people is also white people misunderstanding themselves. Only by coming to a true understanding of ourselves can we avoid “the fire next time”.

Baldwin had the eyes and soul to peer through history, heart aches, and personalities famous or homeless. In 2020, we have seen much more of the delusions and difficulties that he saw over his whole life. This is a worthwhile disturbing confrontation through Baldwin,s poetic and clarifying views of prejudices and choices in the United States.

James Baldwin writes a rambling verbal essay that is timely today as it was in 1962-- unfortunately. I'm a middle class white liberal reading various black voices as I sit in my suburban house. But, Baldwin is so versed and passionate that I like his words better than some of the newer writers.

Baldwin’s ability to analyze the mutual dependencies of American “Negroes” and their “white” counterparts on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the emancipation makes this essay a classic of high merit. He succinctly describes the humanness of those surviving slavery and Jim Crow segregation by their adroitness at negotiating life in a second-class role in the world where they hold the key to liberation and deliverance for the whole of society. For white readers this book helps turn on the lights to understanding what Black America knows intrinsically. A must-read in the era of Black Lives Matter, for those who seek a deeper understanding of racial dynamics in the U.S.

Classics work, Mr. Baldwin was very honest in this work, on his personal experiences with race, religion and politics.

This is a James Baldwin masterpiece, this book is definitely a must read, not just for African Americans but all people.. we must learn to love one another if we want to heal our nation.

A must-read for all who wish to see from the genius of James Baldwin the realities of racism in American culture. Written in 1963 as two essays, Baldwin's work tragically remains relevant today. In many ways, Baldwin's work is a precursor to Ta-Nehisi Coates' letter to his son, "Between the World and Me" (2015). Baldwin's work will remain a classic, a clarion call to all generations, to end racism systemically before it destroys the soul of our nation—if it hasn't already.

James Baldwin is something else. In this book, he rides on logical reasoning and a deep understanding of history, but goes beyond it to some place more profound. Sometimes in his writing he seems to take leaps of faith. As a reader, I get surprised. "How does infer that?" I wonder. Then I understand. I am compelled to follow him in his narrative like a disciple. He is without parallel.

Wow. This book is intense, but oh so prevalent and important. Bought it for a class, to use as a basis for a critique. This is my first Baldwin book, and I intend to read his others. He points out so many relevant and truthful aspects of race, oppression, and society; he addresses intricacies that we may not even think of if we have never experienced them. But more importantly, he goes a step further to suggest ways to improve - society as a whole, whites, blacks, and everyone - to make it a more just world in which we live.

Loved this book. Tried reading it as a young teen. It was a bit heavy for my state of mind back then. Glad I gave it another read!

James has a fascinating story. He's someone to listen to and learn from. I would say he was a man before his time but that wouldn't be accurate. He truly understood his time and his words help navigate ways in which we can respond injustice and racism today. James is brilliant and I have a lot more to learn from him!

I wonder at the ignorance and scorn of white people towards people of varying hues. El Paso, Dayton, Pittsburg, Charleston, and other locations are footnotes to this Caucasian delusion of white superiority. Ultimately, Love(Charity), for others is the only factor that can balance the forces of inequity and ignorance. Read this book before you die. It will lift the veil from your eyes.

There's no way to not suffer. That's what he believes, and so he walks you through a garden of suffering regarding American midcentury race relations. Since you can't not suffer, you may as well look to the beauty at the end of the path. This extended essay begins with a letter to his son. The beauty filled me with tears from beginning to end.

Timely and timeless. Highly recommended. Mr. Baldwin's analysis is a poignant reflection of both his time and our time, this current time. He warned of the fire that is the current global health pandemic as it is ravaging the US and similarly socially structured countries. This is certainly a worthwhile contribution to anyone's reading list for understanding the effects of racism in the US.

No review by me could do this short book justice - I understand why Barrack Obama recommended it on the issue of racism - profoundly deep and moving.

This book should be read by all Americans. It’s sad to say within 40 years after these issues still have not been properly addressed.

This book is fire. Baldwin’s assessment of race dynamics in the United States is incisive and as timely as ever. This was my first of his books, and it will certainly not be my last. A powerful pen, it is clear why Baldwin has been reckoned a key witness of the human experience. His observation which I found most moving was that discrimination morally corrupts the privileged. He eschewed such “privilege.”

Searing personal insight into the horrifying truth of racial (and other) discrimination---in the past, and RIGHT NOW! Read for Book Club, and realized how protected many Americans, including myself, are from the down and dirty realities in the fight for equality. It's all around us, and we need to acknowledge and fix the situation. Should be on every book club list.

Bought this for a Comparative Literature class. Cheaper than the college bookstore, easier than the library and no worries about return dates. A must read classic that I might not have gotten around to reading if not for this class.

This is by one of the best writers ever, James Baldwin. Everything he’s ever written should be required reading for every person alive. He was a genius but importantly a great person who just wanted the world to be better/fair for all people. He is a hero for mankind. He is missed, always. What a lovely human being.

I began reading Baldwin again after seeing NOT YOUR NEGRO, and I am impressed not only with his politics but with his intuitive psychology and his understanding and compassion for even vicious and violent racists. When I read him in the sixties I was unaware of his laser-like perception of human failings. I am now discovering him all over again.

Unfortunately, this is just as relevant today as it was when he so eloquently penned it. Thank You, Mr. Baldwin-your assessment then is now, in 2020, a chilling reminder of the path we traverse heads held high, but dependent upon others acknowledgment before we can heal.

In this time where polarization and isolation are seen by so many as their only option for a worldview, Baldwin gives a STILL refreshing alternative to the path we keep treading. If you are tired of being shouted down, this is a "must read" from a different time, but not so much a different situation.

Predating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this documents the historic reality of blacks in the US over time, which hasn't changed much in the last century. It was eye-opening on a number of levels. I liked the way Mr. Baldwin tells the story, which is sad but actionable.

Powerful words and a powerful message regarding the need for those of us alive in this country to do what is necessary to insure that everyone is valued. Such a powerful message when our country and our “leader” are headed in the wrong direction!

At this moment of opening our eyes to the long history of racial discrimination and inequity, no book I have read matches this one in conveying the realities Blacks have faced and in many ways continue to face. Highly recommended.

It is as if James Baldwin wrote this last week. A very honest depiction of America then and now. James Baldwin was America's mirror. Racism is an illusion. It's really about power. Who has it and who wants to keep it. I high recommend "Fire Next Time".

James Baldwin is the consummate observer of the status of class and race in the US. Building from his own self-observation of experiences as an Africa-American in NYC as a child and adolescent, Mr. Baldwin delineates in a most interesting and compelling well how racism and classism have undermined the attainment of self-love, love of others and the American Dream for people of all races. This book could have been written today instead of 50 years ago. Baldwin's wisdom is not to be missed.

Reading this again after 40 years. Accurate then and accurate now

I wish I’d read this in high school. But maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated it so much then, being that I was relatively sheltered. But maybe this book would’ve helped crack that sheltering a bit. Baldwin is a poet and a prophet.

In her book, "The New Jim Crow," Michelle Alexander quoted "The Fire Next Time," and went on to say that it was the most extraordinary book ever written. After reading it and taking notes, I can honestly say James Baldwin's book definitely earned that veneration. James Baldwin is an amazing wordsmith who so accurately describes, in the 1960's, the same power struggle situation we are seeing today in the United States! It is a must read for anyone wishing to understand the state of affairs between the power structure, white supremacy, and black people.

This book came out in the early 1960s, and what he has to say is as relevant today as it was then. It is at times uncomfortable to read because as a white person, I don’t want to believe that this really happened in America. But, it did.

I have put off reading this classic for some time. Once I picked it up I could not put it down. Baldwin is courageous and clear regarding race in America. I also agree with him wholeheartedly, it will be “FIRE NEXT TIME”

Baldwin's facility with words makes clear the racial issues in the US that were deeply troubling at the time he wrote this book. It is more than a little disturbing that his thoughts could have been written yesterday. Should be required reading in our schools.

Excellent book; I love Mr. Baldwin's writing style. This was a very interesting read. The various complexities of Mr. Baldwin's own experience and realities that he talks about in depth are ones that I've grappled with in thought during our present time. His reflections are very thoughtful as he swims deep in topics of black self identity, religion, American white supremacy, etc. His life experiences and thoughts as a Black man of his time sadly mirrors those of today; as much as times have changed are as much as they've stayed the same. This book, The Fire Next Time, fuels readers to think deeply about our own present time and to confront the realities of it with raw transparency; no sugar coating added.

..and found it,once again, to be profoundly moving and inspiring. I think of it as the non-fiction partner to _To Kill a Mockingbird,_in that it inspired many of my peers to become dedicated social workers,fighting for their clients. I read it at 15,and read again at 70.My opinion of it has not changed.

At times I found this work to be difficult to read and at times I found myself angry at the author's comments about white America but when I would take a step back and remember this is his prospective of the world that he knows. I saw how he views the world and his love and hope for a unified America.

It's hard to believe that James Baldwin wrote this book back in 1963. This essay speaks volumes to our current social and political environment. What an incredible and insightful man. Rest In Power!

Baldwin is belatedly being recognized as one of the great minds of his generation. His powers of observation and brilliant skills of assessment are on full display here.

This first came out in 1963, but it could have been written last year. It was written as a letter to a namesake grandson on the 100th anniversary of the emancipation. I re-read it after our church book club read Ibram X. Kendi's "How to be an Antiracist". It is at once both helpful and depressing that this book came out when I was a junior in high school and we are still dealing with this....

I wanted to revisit this seminal book. I highly recommend it. Especially for those trying to understand the history and origins of systemic racism and its effects on people of color

This is a book that I am going to save so that my family, friends, and children can read. This book very well articulated the black experience in America through the life of James Baldwin. Very short read, probably only took a few hours. 5/5.

Every American should read this short but incredibly prescient work of non fiction, no less pertinent 57 years after it was published.

Beautiful and expressive writing by an extraordinary author, essayist and activist. I long for the days of such extraordinary discourse and courageous affirmation of justice.

Excellent!! Mr. Baldwin's message is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Superb writing.

I don't know if this is required reading in school or not; I was home schooled from 10-12 so my experience is a bit different than most. However, if this isn't required reading in high school, it really should be. It's honest and informative. James Baldwin is well written and brilliant and delivers the truth kindly but firmly. Everyone should read his work. It's important.

As completely and alarmingly relevant today as it was in Baldwin's day. How stagnant we have been on the issue of race over hundreds of years is tragic and frightening. But Baldwin's analysis is as beautiful and awe-inspiring as it is cutting and difficult to swallow. In the end the message is one of hopeful eye-opening awareness and impels readers of all colors to speak up for change.

Trying to write a review for any Baldwin work is kind of pointless. His writing is beautiful and heartbreaking, and needs to be read. This book is psychologically heavier than say Giovanni's Room, so if you're looking for something light go elsewhere. But if you want to broaden your perspective, and enjoy beautiful prose, start reading.

With the recent events of 2020 this was a recommended read from Amazon. I got it and blasted through it in one sitting. An emotional read but also he is a witness to history.

I hate that so little about race relations in America has changed in 60 years. Sure, we’re better than before but that’s too little too late.

This book tells indispensable truths about being black and white in America which many people do not want to hear nor see. It casts a light on the ugliness of the country and how blacks are integral part of the country itself. It's a beautiful thought process written by a beautiful man who sought love to dispense hate. It is self-reflective and astounding to read. I would recommend it to absolutely everyone. I have a few pages with highlighted quotes and dog ears because I love the way Mr. Baldwin used words. Putting emphasis on the fact that we need to stop putting significance or emphasis on color.

Provoking letter to his nephew in the first chapter - so very truthful to the core. Insightful real description & discussion between Baldwin & Elijah Muhammad. I recommend this read for everyone. Particularly, young people about to enter the workforce. I gave it 4 Stars because it was a brief read. More, could have been added regarding the Church. But, I think Baldwin wanted to stay clear of being critical of the Church. A Writer is first impacted by the sensitivity of of their work before their audience.

Shook my soul to the center. Written from the heart, with knife cutting honesty. As a white man raised in a white family in a white neighborhood in the 1960's. I had no idea, I cried a few times at his writing and emotion coming through his words. God Help us All!!! This is the most horrible thing I have ever heard of being committed against a group of people. Shame on US. This is a MUST READ.

Baldwin's book is a classic. It provides unique insights into American race relations, especially as they were in the early 1960s. Every American, regardless of race or religion, should read this book.

Very good vocal performance. Will relisten before too long. Feels like a dispatch from a war torn country, which the author might say is very much the point.

James Baldwin is a MUST—READ by us Honkies sometime in our lives. His is a voice we must hear to appreciate the truth of White Privilege. He was important to his time, and his voice, however caustic, is needed even more today.

Baldwin's facility with language is enough to make this book worth reading - it's like watching a tremendous intellectual athlete at work without a net. But even better is the perspective he brings to the challenging issue of race, and the way it makes one think about and reimagine the topic.

My Kindle didn't work correctly; it doesn't accept my ratings and I gave this prose at least a 4 stars. Mr Baldwin is someone I wish I could have talked with. He was not only brilliant he was also extraordinarily insightful about the human condition.

The first "letter" alone ( 7 pages) is worth the price of many books. The second letter is tough reading because Baldwin fearlessly explores racism in America. Baldwin is one of the most honest writers I know.

Very thought provoking. Considers multiple sides of the argument in a very ratuionale way to allow the reader to see another point of view. I took longer to read this because the writer makes so many important staements that require reflection. It shiuld be on everyone's list of books to read in your lifetime, sooner rather than later.

All I can say is: Read this. Read this. Read this. Read this. Read this. Read this. Read this. Read this. READ THIS. (With a highlighter nearby.)

James Baldwin was profoundly insightful in his analysis and articulation of the racial problems in America. A very good read.

Simply breathtaking, in its moral clarity and its fiercely eloquent prose. This book is as relevant in 2017 as when it was first published. Baldwin will forever remain, in the eyes of all who seek justice in the world, a secular prophet of astonishing vision. "The Fire Next Time," in particular, is required reading for anyone even mildly interested in the state of race relations in early 21sr century US.

As powerful and pertinent now as when written- Baldwin writes with a beauty that certainly transcends his education. Poignant, powerful, and most importantly hopeful.

Baldwin's writing so eloquently captures the essence of being Black in America. The observations are timeless. The conclusions are provocative. He touched chords that resonate with everyone who has lived the Black (Negro) experience in America.

Baldwin attempts to analyze the realities of the black milieu, and ultimately discusses the required ingredients to produce an aggrandized America. Through his conversations with Elijah Muhammed, love, so he argues, is the most pertinent necessity as America continues to press forward. This book is definitely a must read if the considering reader wishes to analyze the mindset of an anti-assimilationist in the early 1960s.

A beautifully crafted, emotionally and intellectually charged plea to the American people during the nascent Civil Rights Movement. Baldwin writes with passion, candor, desperation and hope, providing critical insight into the realities of being black in America. He conveys a clear sense of urgency, challenging Americans to reckon with the legacy of racism and reject the delusion that skin color determines value or worth. Perhaps most surprising to me in reading Baldwin for the first time was discovering that in spite of his deep awareness of the horrors of being black and his cutting criticism of white Americans, he still insisted on unity and love. He had every reason not to, and yet he did. I plan to read some of his later work and will be interested to see if his cautious optimism changed at all—particularly after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Sadly, much of what Baldwin wrote more than five decades ago is still relevant today. His hopeful plea for change and his urgent warning to America to end its racial nightmare are all the more devastating knowing that we still have so far to go.

A great piece of literary work!

A scathing analysis, after close watching of white people, of the unconscious ignorance and malevolence of racism. Yet Baldwin expresses hope that facing the truth of history and our hidden selves can bring our nation out of wasteful confusion and into a new reality based on love.

Valued opportunity to have to read once more when I want the deep observations I first encountered as a teeneager.

I will learn and share knowledge I will learn from James Balwin's inlellect.

This book is inspiring and heart-breaking and educational and hopeful and exactly what we need in the world right now.

James Baldwin should be read by every White person in the US. He tells it like it is, and his prose is exquisite.

This is a book that should be read with a open discussion

This book should be read by all Americans. And, it is extremely well written. I was not aware that James Baldwin was such a master of the English language. I really enjoyed reading this book, not just for the message, but just as much for the sheer pleasure of reading such well written English.

This book could have been written today. I loved it. It caused me to ponder my action and think about change.

Wonderful insight that is necessary for ALL thinking and compassionate Americans. He helped me to understand myself and how we each relate to each other. My 16 year old daughter also listen. She’s very well read & still proclaimed he is her favorite author now.

I read this book ‘back in the day’, yet it’s amazing how current it is.

A powerful piece of writing that holds relevance to this day. A must read for all races and ages. Thank you sir James Baldwin!

He articulates very powerful truths and his words still to this day RING powerfully true, and still resonate and inspire. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American social justice history and the shared experience of Americans in this country. One of the TRUE American literary voices.

Great short read, not what I expected but still a pleasant read

A stunning diagnosis on the nature of white and black men and women. He takes the reader on a journey—quite stream of consciousness like—and just when it gets really dark and bleak, he provides a flicker of light to guide the reader. I love the ending. It is a call to action filled with hope.

This was a bookclub pick for our November Zoom meeting. Participants found it very timely and thought provoking.

Great information and put me in the know

James Baldwin has to here, a thoughtful an thorough evaluation of the RACE PROBLEM in our country. It remains quite true nearly sixty years after it was originally published. There are lessons here for all Americans.

well written, good insight, gives you something to think about especially at this time.

A must read in 2020. Not much has changed in over 50 years. A fascinating analysis of the black and white state of America.

This book has as much relevance today as it did when it was written. Baldwin offers balanced, yet vague, insight on how to approach race relations and change hearts on both sides of the coin. I was very moved by the language he chose to evoke the sentiment behind race in America, though it was sometimes hard to follow his lengthy phrasing. This book is as foundational as Souls of Black Folks in the curriculum for understanding race in America. I definitely recommend.

Mr Baldwin has a laser focus on the problem and does not mince words as he makes his points about segregation and the problem the white man has with the colored population. Well worth reading.

I really like how he portraits the black community and himself and how the whole situation in the segregation had happened.

Had this but it got lost. Baldwin is Baldwin. For me a must have

I first read it in 1963/4 and again in 2020. More important now than when first written. Brilliant, compelling, and now is the time to take his words as the next steps to anti-racism.

Arrived on time and in like-new condition. Perfect!

First read when I was much younger, it remains a strong testament. To re-read Baldwin in the same few months of reading Ta-Nehisi Coates', Between the World and Me, my conscious white body is questioned in ways that are required in order for my challenges to be recognized and acted upon.

A painful but clear view of the African American experience and the possibility of racial reckoning. Mandatory reading for all Americans.

I chose the rating because of the different history it provided; because of information contained therein; because of the guidance it provided; because it is still relevant today; and because I love and agree with the way he thinks.

A needed reading for everyone in the world, especially Americans. A deep trip through the history of the American Negros and all the structural complexes that work to maintain this social group where they are. All from the brilliant narrative of James Baldwin. An intense book that you'll read in a few hours.

Awesome, well written, excellent, enlightening, empowering!!! Wish I'd read this sooner, but it's never too late to hear the truth.

Love it. Thanks.

This is a classic. I revisit it every so often and have for years. I wanted it on my readers. I believe that if you have not read this you ought to and if you have read it in the past, you would profit from revisiting it in these troubled days.

James Baldwin speaks with personal knowledge of race issues that are as relevant today as when he wrote The Fire Next Time. He speaks with wisdom and feeling. I would call his reading the fire within. Well worth the listen, especially in light of the BLM movement.

Very interesting book

Baldwin's logic hits with the power of a prize fighter and the wisdom of an elder. How can his words find their targets decades after publication? At times, you will feel rage; when you calm you may be motivated to do something to bring about change. #BlackLivesMatter

James Baldwin...need I say more? I felt like I was walking in his shoes. It’s like this book is giving you a glimpse into Baldwin’s journal where you’re reading his inner thoughts, desires, disappointments and fears. This book reminds us, we still have work to do.

Love reading it.

What I needed right now And it sounds so familiar right now

The inner musings of Baldwin are both profound and insightful. He unequivocally holds up a mirror to the celebrated American societal structure and forces it to look at the hypocritical monster its always been.

Had a collection of his books. Lost in moving. Good reading

Quick ship and perfect condition. Great read!!

Again not for me...maybe for you....Perhaps not being religious I could not relate to all he went through and tired of his harangues quickly

An amazing Author and activist during a dark time in American history. I suggest reading, “I’m not your Negro.”

I love this book

This should be required reading for every American.

I used t for personal use. Baldwin is an incredible writer. He tells it like it is

Why, when this man so eloquently lays out the truth, are we still living this ugly version of America? It makes being a spiritual non-theist maddening.

James Baldwin predicted the summer we just experienced. The culmination of too many murders and injustices exploded the powder keg of righteous anger with the video of George Floyd’s murder. I read this book for an online discussion I’m having in a few weeks.

It's amazing how relevant this book is to the racial climate were in today. Baldwin talks about the importance of love and conquering fear-- to truly be a nation of peace... today we're are still grappling with those concepts. Still, folks are afraid to embrace each other, and understand we will all not be here to see the sun raise one day.

Such elegant writing and so much needed now. Baldwin doesn't grow old.

Published 60 years ago; it is unfortunately still relevant today. Worth reading for context in a tragic, complicated public policy problem.

Deep.

This book is even more pertinent today then it was in the 60s. If you are a non-black person sympathetic to Black peoples continual fight for equality and attempting to understand the mindset of how racism affects our views of America you should read this book.

Outstanding! Even though it was written years ago, it should be read by everyone who wants to understand and change our country.

Excellent price.

Daughter needed for a college class. She said it was good.

Couldn't put this book down. Fantastic book

Life altering work that every American must read to understand this nation. Baldwin’s perspective is clearly stated and historically grounded. And we have come far enough to see the truth of every letter.

Baldwin may be the single most gifted prose writer of the 20th century. This essay can renew or ignite the fervor necessary for real social change, and has some of the finest contemplations on power I've come across. Be better; read Baldwin.

I love the author

Disturbing, hauntingly insightful with an abundance of observations that force the reader to re-examine his or her own take on American culture. Essential to understanding what contemporary life is like for African-Americans.

Great read. A lot of his positions remain relevant today. I marvel when I think about the time period in which he wrote books such as this one. The book was delivered quickly even with the free standard shipping.

Read it. Absolutely phenomenal work.

The implicit threat that lies barely under the surface has failed to motivate substantial change in our culture. If the current energy behind white supremacist groups was manifested in the community of color, I can’t imagine that we wouldn’t be seeing a sanctioned counter-insurgency sponsored by institutions of public safety.

Everything I expected it to be and more. To know yourself one should this. I read it one or two days to process the information gained.

IMPORTANT book. I plan to read all of mr. Balwin's essays and writings in the future.

In our era of Black Lives Matter, James Baldwin wrote a scathing indictment of White priviledge, yet one tempered with hope that we can change ... if we set our minds to it. Otherwise, yes, the fire next time.

Lv it

James Baldwin...what else is there to say? What an increible orator and his writing style mimics that style...it's like you hear him standing next to you talking. I love it!

The brilliance and intelligence of James Baldwin.

It's James Baldwin! What else is there to say? Excellent thinker! Excellent writer!

An excellent book. His writing is clear and precise and beautifully crafted from cover to cover. The points made are poignant and perfect. Exceptional all around.

A wonderful book. James Baldwin was an amazing author. Honest and impossible to believe we live the way we do.

I am grateful to read the words of Mr. Baldwin. The truth of his words ring more true today than ever, with a racist demagogue in office and a nation waiting for the wisdom to heal. And we can only heal, acc to Mr Baldwin, when whites like myself are willing to accept the hard truths of a rigged system and a brutal history, which does harm to the "beneficiary" of a rigged system as well as those oppressed. A privilege to read such brilliant writing.

This was m first tim in a long time reading James Baldwin book. His writing is int new, his style captivating, his points and arguments riveting.

So much of what Baldwin comments on holds true today. We are not so very removed from our history that we have yet to learn all its lessons. I just got a little more woke.

I wish I had read this years ago~ such a powerful, inspiring book! The truth is the truth and this book is just as relevant now as when it was originally published. I wish this were required reading in high schools. Baldwin is a master of language, and a heroic voice. Unforgettable book~ a classic.

Great book but then again any book by James Baldwin is good.

Must Read and Understand

Great book

Normally the books I get assigned for my English class are either too hard to read and interpret, or are so painful to read & drag on forever. This one however gave a great insight on life I'm not usually expose to. I would highly recommend this book if your in for a quick insightful read. (人 •͈ᴗ•͈)