Part 2 of 2

It wasn’t difficult for me to understand and appreciate. I did find it easier to listen to than read. Now I want to get a physical copy to read again and highlight and really absorb.

#jamesbaldwin #thefirenexttime This collection of moments is #essentialwhitereading imo.

The book is short--so a quick read, but it will make you think & it's likely you'll want to come back to it again. You can learn about race relations in 1963 & earlier, & most of what he talks about it still relevant to this day. The work is both a personal message & a reflection on society.

I think of this whiteness as white supremacy that hurts us all and is destroying us but too many people still cling to it. Most of us are like fish in water, swimming in white supremacy unaware. What we see happening politically right now is a direct result of white supremacy. It’s the backlash.

Reading James Baldwin’s perspective and hopefulness helped me feel more hopeful.

Or it’s targeted simply because the author is black.

Or it is seen as a challenge to their worldview and way of life. Racism benefits them and they want it to continue. They don’t want us to think, learn, and grow.

Books about racism make some people uncomfortable. Rather than see their discomfort as a sign that they need to learn about other perspectives and experiences, they seek to silence the messenger.

Yes! I also had to check the copyright date.

Thanks for doing this book club. I’ve wanted to read this for so long and this was the push I needed. Same with Parable of the Sower.