James Baldwin

1924 – 1987

James Arthur Baldwin was an American writer and civil rights activist whose essays, novels, and plays became central to the 20th-century conversation about race, sexuality, and American identity. His 1953 debut novel Go Tell It on the Mountain and his 1955 essay collection Notes of a Native Son established his reputation, and works including The Fire Next Time (1963) and the unfinished I Am Not Your Negro made him one of the most penetrating analysts of American racism. Living for much of his life in France, he remained a tireless public voice during the civil rights era and a foundational influence on Black, queer, and American literature.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM