The Meaning Of Love In James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time

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Love is not a noun to be defined, but rather a verb to be acted upon. When one loves someone or something it is action that causes them to achieve change and greatness. Love makes humans vulnerable and causes us to open up to others and present ourselves for who we truly are. Love, acceptance, fear, and race a long with other topics are addressed in James Baldwin’s book, The Fire Next time. In this book he goes into great depth about the meaning of love. Through my interpretations, I believe Baldwin is telling his audience that we as humans, go through life with a mask in order to hide who we really are. It is love however, that causes vulnerability and takes off this mask we carry with us on a daily basis.
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He reminds his nephew that he has lived here for a long time and knows how dark this world is. Through his words and advice Baldwin hopes to help him fight against a loveless world. He tells his nephew, “there is no reason for you to try to become like white people…”(8). There will be many things said about his nephew based on his color, but the last thing Baldwin wants is for him to put on a mask in order to fit in and become like white people. Instead, Baldwin wants his nephew to love himself for who he is. Love his culture, ethnicity, and race. This is one of the things that makes us unique individuals and we should therefore embrace it. Baldwin suggests, “ that we, with love, shall force our brothers to see themselves as they are to cease fleeing from reality and begin to change it” (10). When people put on this mask they are in a sense fleeing from reality. They are not willing to see themselves for who and what they really are. Baldwin here also suggest that in order to fix this problem, people must embrace who they are and do something to change racial discrimination. Baldwin also makes the claim that “fear must be faced”(27). It does no good to hide behind a mask because this does not change what one

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