For anyone trying to wrap their minds around the ever-complex race relations in the U.S., I would highly recommend reading some of James Baldwin’s writing. This is a book of essays and vignettes, where he reflects on experiences he’s had and his opinions on anything from Uncle Tom’s Cabin to studying abroad. Despite the fact that this book was written decades ago, it remains sadly relevant to today’s world. I especially love his reflections about Miss Ophelia in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, an abolitionist who blindly condemns slavery as immoral, but still feels repulsed by individual black people. Here and elsewhere in his writing, James Baldwin challenges Americans (especially white Americans) to reflect deeply on the racist attitudes we hold, though it may be uncomfortable. Rejecting something because you are told it is wrong will not bring about meaningful change. He was a contemporary of Malcolm X, and this becomes apparent when you read him. If you prefer reading fiction, I’d also recommend his novel Another Country. Many thanks to my sister Althea for the great Christmas present!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For anyone trying to wrap their minds around the ever-complex race relations in the U.S., I would highly recommend reading some of James Baldwin’s writing. This is a book of essays and vignettes, where he reflects on experiences he’s had and his opinions on anything from Uncle Tom’s Cabin to studying abroad. Despite the fact … <\/p>\n