The Fire Next Time James Baldwin Analysis

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Traditionally, conversations about the Civil Right Movement refer to the career of Martin Luther King as a non-violent integrationist or Malcom X as a dominate separationist. James Baldwin who also played a major part in the Civil Rights Movement, although he did not dedicate to either side of the extremes. It was often seen that his view stuck the chord of both Malcom X and Dr. Martin Luther King. In his book The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin analyses the position of blacks in America a century after the Emancipation Proclamation which supposedly gave blacks their freedom. Within this book he expresses his views on both social and political integration. He uses the essay “My Dungeon Shook” as a plea to his nephew the importance of acceptance …show more content…

Along with Baldwin’s plea for social and political integration, Baldwin believes in hope and brotherhood, just as Dr. Martin Luther King. Baldwin suggests the only way for which both Negros and white American will transcend from the past is to accept it, in order to be released from it.
Baldwin was an intelligent man who realized that without acceptance and love for all the issues between black and whites will forever exist. Like Dr. Martin Luther king Baldwin believe that the only way to improve blacks social position was to accept what the white had done and integrate peacefully. Within his letter to his nephew, he explains how the bitterness of his father leads him to suffer a terrible life he states “he was defeated long before he died because, at the bottom of his heart, he really believes what white people said about him” (Baldwin, pg. 4). He tells his nephew that he must realize that it is none other than the white men of this country who have put them in this position, although we can’t blame them forever because” those innocents who believe that your imprisonment made them safe are losing their grasp on reality. But these men are your brother- your lost, younger …show more content…

Baldwin explain how America functioned as a county and also as an ideal, so that would make it “extremely unlikely that Negroes will ever rise to power in the United States” (Baldwin, pg.83) Baldwin uses the example of how American Negros were kidnapped brought here and sold like animals and treated like ones. So there is no way there will ever be change in their situation without the most radical changes. With this statement Baldwin is showing his mix of ideals, here he is more aligned with Malcom X. Baldwin continues to explain how freedom in political terms is hard to obtain. The only way one will obtain it is they have to be “capable of bearing the burden” (Baldwin, pg. 91). Therefore, without the acceptance of that burden he principles of transformation into one nation will not let us recognize ourselves as we are. Baldwin directs this message mostly toward whites in America but also to the blacks. Baldwin very much like Dr. Martin Luther King was very hopeful that black and white could integrate and become one nation he states “black and the white, deeply need each other here if we are really to become a nation- if we really, that is, to achieve out identity, our maturity, as men and women” (Baldwin, pg. 97) Although deep down in his heart he knew the only way for America and the people living here to become one was to let go of the past

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