James Baldwin

By the 1950’s and 1960’s, James Baldwin was already in his 30’s and 40’s in age. As an African American growing up in Harlem during his time period, the main focus of his life was the church. It seems by being a member of the church; Baldwin felt the sense of community and found an escape from his poor surroundings through the church. Having a cruel, overbearing step father always made James Baldwin feel the …

…see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way ... people look at reality, then you can change it.” (http://www.cp-tel.net/miller/BilLee/quotes/Baldwin.html) The African American artists and writers all face similar problems; one mutual problem amongst majority of them is that they mostly write regarding African American issues. May it be about black culture or politics, the subject usually centers on issues that African Americans may face.