Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to James Baldwin
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving James Baldwin.
James Baldwin was a prominent African-American writer and civil rights activist known for his insightful essays, novels, and plays. His works, such as *Go Tell It on the Mountain* and *Notes of a Native Son*, explored themes of race, sexuality, and identity in America. Baldwin's powerful voice and eloquent prose made him a significant figure in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for human equality and challenging societal norms through his writing and public speaking.
1943: Lucien Carr Murders David Kammerer
In 1943, Lucien Carr, a Columbia University undergraduate, murdered David Kammerer near the Hudson River after Kammerer made sexual advances. Carr stabbed Kammerer and disposed of the body in the river, an event that later inspired the murder plot in Baldwin's novel.
1944: Lucien Carr Murders David Kammerer
In 1944, Lucien Carr, a Columbia University undergraduate, was involved in the murder of David Kammerer near the Hudson River. This event served as inspiration for a murder within Baldwin's novel.
1949: Publication of "Everybody's Protest Novel"
In 1949, James Baldwin published "Everybody's Protest Novel," a scathing critique of Richard Wright's work. Baldwin criticized Wright's work for being protest literature which cages humanity.
1949: Baldwin critiques Wright's Native Son
In 1949, James Baldwin's essay "Everybody's Protest Novel" criticized Richard Wright's "Native Son," leading to a rift in their friendship.
1951: Publication of "Many Thousands Gone"
In 1951, James Baldwin published "Many Thousands Gone," another critique of Richard Wright. Baldwin's essays articulated his view that white racism toward Black Americans was refracted through self-hatred and self-denial.
August 1955: Murder of Emmett Till
In August 1955, the racist murder of Emmett Till in Mississippi, and the subsequent acquittal of his killers, deeply affected Baldwin and later influenced his writing, particularly "Blues for Mister Charlie."
December 1955: Rosa Parks Arrested
In December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, an event that galvanized the Civil Rights Movement and was followed by Baldwin from Paris.
February 1956: Autherine Lucy Admitted and Expelled from University of Alabama
In February 1956, Autherine Lucy was admitted to the University of Alabama but was later expelled after white riots. Baldwin, witnessing these events from Paris, felt increasingly burdened by a sense of wasting time abroad.
March 1956: Faulkner's Comment on Desegregation
In March 1956, William Faulkner commented that he would side with white Mississippians in a war over desegregation, even if it meant shooting Black people. This inspired Baldwin to write the essay "William Faulkner and Desegregation,"
1956: Publication of Giovanni's Room
In 1956, James Baldwin published Giovanni's Room, a novel that caused great controversy due to its homoerotic content.
1960: FBI starts compiling Baldwin's file.
In 1960, the FBI began collecting information for James Baldwin's file, which eventually contained 1,884 pages, reflecting the surveillance of American writers during that era.
1963: Baldwin blames violence on political figures.
In 1963, during the Birmingham riot, James Baldwin blamed the violence on the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, Mississippi Senator James Eastland, and President Kennedy for their failure to use the prestige of the office as a moral forum.
