in this interpretation whats important to realize is the quote “You could be that person. You could be that monster. You could be that cop. And you have to decide in yourself not to be.” in that same instance you have to make the active choice to be one of the people that hold the world together with their love and passion 🤔🙇🏽♂️
This man should be an entire semester or a year-long class in every high school, if not college in America. Imagine how many dangerous, passionate young minds he would inspire?
Yup and i say even if you disagree with things he said he still should be taught and known. It's crazy how guys like this are just breezed through and forgotten while the industry generations later makes sure they make a quick penny off him. I dont think you can trust someone that doesn't own one of his books or AT LEAST know of. This guy is what this generation needs especially for the black community since their idols today are brain dead.
Yes! And I always think about how tired he seems. How exhausting it must have been to speak like this, to carry this knowledge and try to transmit it to others.
God bless James's soul, wherever it flows. People simply don't speak with this level of compassion or insight anymore and, if they do, it falls unceremoniously on deaf ears.
James Baldwin was described by his first biographer James Campbell as *the most intelligent man I ever met* and *a born genius*. I would add that he was also the most gifted American writer of his time and a truer patriot than any of his detractors.
How I mourn this scintillatingly brilliant and inspirationally courageous (and deeply ethical) man to this day. I began reading his novels and essays many years ago as an adolescent, and I met him briefly when he came to London to deliver a talk at the ICA, not too long before the world lost his living genius. I remain as inspired today by his example as I was as a youngster, perhaps moreso. Thank you for sharing this brief sequence of his moving, eloquent, compassionate fury.
The first time I heard of James Baldwin, I was 16 years old. I was in my high school literature class. We read the book , "Go tell it on the Mountain" It was an amazing story. We enjoyed the book .
At the same age I would see him on tv. Transfixed by his brilliance, his anger and his sincerity. Talking pure sense that, alas, has not been heeded. ❤
Did you really listen to what brother James had to say there is no way for a black man to escape we live every day knowing this could be our last day I love this man
THAT MY DEAR..IS BECAUSE HE KNEW. HE GAVE NO EXCUSES; NO ILLUSION IN HIS LIFE NOR IN HIS WRITTEN COMMENTARY. HE KNEW WHAT MANY OF US KNOW. DIFFERENCE IS: HE NEVER, EVER DENIED IT. HE KNEW. AND I'M GLAD THAT HE DID. FOR IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIM AND THIOSE BEFORE HIM...I WOULD HAVENEVER RECEIVED THE EDUCATION JAMES BALDWIN GAVE ME.
fuck, the man can control words. He is so bloody well spoken. God, there is a chasm in terms of a difference in how people today talk like. they've fucked up the English language.
I would say baldwin is just as important as mlk and Malcolm x. With baldwin, hes so important because he survived. I wonder deeply about so many people who were gunned down in the 20th century, and sometimes i look to later baldwin, and i see how much we lost with those who didnt make it
I am not sure this man was not the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. He sure sounds like Him. This man could peel the skin off of a lie just by looking at it. I love the way he matter-of-factly confronts every scintilla of an untruth without flinching. And he has such grace, poise, and joy, with great humor as well. Everyone, please read his books! He was all about LOVE!
@stabilobowski actively choosing to be the change and to be the person you want to see more of in this world. @2:50 Jimmy said that everyone we see is also us, and that we have to choose not to be people that cause harm and hatred. Love is a choice and an action-not just a feeling as we are often taught.
I read my first book by James Baldwin just yesterday: The Fire Next Time Ordering more very soon. I feel sad that I wasn't aware of him while he walked this earth.
You cannot read just one of James Baldwin's books and not want to read the rest of his writings. And once you start reading them, you cannot stop. His words infect your soul, and leave light in it. Every single word of his effuses truth. I'm just glad that - even though I did not read him while he was alive, I live in a time when he walked the earth and I can read his work. Wisdom and love are the same thing.@@donnavorce8856
I agree writing is a process and sometimes diligence does not seem right. I would ask him, "If a black man in America comes to you and another walks by expecting you to always say hi, is this cordial, or do I have the right to ask questions?" Anyone that shows up uninvited is begging for the street to ignore something for someone if the street is the place he is avoiding by coming to me? I guess it is pomp and circumstance but how do say -- hmm, really?
#AmericanHistory101✨🦅🗽🇺🇸✨ “ The logic of despair isn’t for me.” “I’m aware, you know, that I and the people I love may perish in the morning. I know that. But there’s light in our faces now. If you live under the shadow of death, it gives you a certain freedom. I’m perfectly happy, odd as it sounds, you know & relatively free.” - James Baldwin
☝Indeed, it's possible to miss the entire point this way. Some might hear one jab that reinforces what they think they "knew" and stop listening. It's easier than learning.
@@rachelj1201 or the more tragically common perspective that overlooks this point completely and worships the positive points, e.g every single other comment on here..
Look...I could argue all day with someone looking to confirm racist assumptions, but I don't want to. That simply wasn't the "point" of the interview. You missed ALL the points.
@@rachelj1201 I watched, I listened, I read the positive comments, yup, I get it. All those points are obvious and no one disputes them…I’m simply observing an overlooked emphasis by the speaker. My comment was off-hand in proportion to the lack of representation for that comment. No argument needed. I’m not criticizing you or your views simply because they differ from mine… the high horse and lack of humility is rather ironic to say the least 🤷🏻♂️
@ It's kind of not worth it other than the last part where Baldwin lets the guy interview him, the rest of the time they seem at odds about what the documentary should be focusing on so it's just the director arguing with Baldwin and some college student Baldwin has with him
⭐ Ubomi really has no formula . You do what you feel is best for you. Ngamanye amaxesha , we trave to escape. Awudingi to know that many People , A few that will help you ngama xesha anzima are more than enough.
I love his answers. He’s so intelligent. I believe that from the moment we’re born, the one thing that people want, more than love or money or anything, is freedom.
the interviewer is shady as fuck! ..... and if he (James) wanted to escape, he could easily go back to a "black" country, which confuses me, why he didn't. still, one of the most brilliant men in history!
@@rachelj1201 -- - you are correct about him being American, he is a Hebrew native to America, as are all so-called black people .... as for immigrating to another country, as a world traveler, i know it's not that easy, but it isn't that hard, either -- with the proper finances, anything is possible. AND HE HAD THE MONEY!
@@3rdScribe155 OK, um...as Mr. Baldwin tells it, he chose to stay in the United States, murder and racism notwithstanding, and explains his reasons in this video. It begins with his point of view regarding the invention of race, incidentally. We clearly all have opinions and strong feelings about lots of things, but he didn't want to leave the United States, and your choice of words is, frankly, racist and problematic--there wasn't anywhere for this native-born American to "easily go back" to.
