The Significance of James Baldwin

James Arthur Baldwin was born in 1924 in Harlem New York.  During his lifetime, he was a civil rights activist, working mostly through his pen, and a minister. Baldwin’s stepfather was also a preacher, though eventually, Baldwin would forsake the family tradition.  Baldwin resided mostly in France in his adult life, but often traveled back to the States to teach or lecture. His writing is important to American Literature because of the era he lived in, and the many experiences he has had that readers can learn from. Baldwin’s experience, his time spent in the church, the things he has seen on the street, his brief contact with Elijah Muhammad, and many other instances are historical and personal events that many young readers will never experience if they do not read Baldwin’s words. Baldwin preserves important events, persons, sentiments, and wisdom that he has learned for those who will come after him, through his words. Baldwin’s works are also important because he is one of few known black homosexual writers who write on the topic.  Baldwin’s ideas, feelings and experiences are important because students and other readers need to be exposed to the many ideas in the world. Overall, Baldwin’s writings are important to American Literature because they add the historic, potently human, and vividly real experiences of one African American– formerly Christian, touched by the Nation of Islam, Homosexual– black man.

What does Baldwin mean when he says:

“Whose little boy are you?”In Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time,” the line “Whose little boy are you?” is a paramount theme.  In the essay, it is interesting that both the pimps, and the pastor ask this question. Of even more importance is the fact that Baldwin himself longs to be someone’s little boy. Baldwin does not, however see himself as his father’s little boy so the meaning of this question is obviously not literal. When Baldwin poses this question through the pastor he meets, he means, “what is your gimmick or game?” As Baldwin approaches the age of maturity, he begins to realize that he must have a way of living; he needs a gimmick, a trick, a game, to make his living in life. The pimps, street people, and pastors are after him. He only sees these few choices. The question, “whose little boy are you,” can easily be translated, “what are you going to do? Which one will you choose to belong to?” It is also apparent that Baldwin feels that whatever he chooses will own him, and strangely enough, he wants to be owned by something, perhaps to feel safe.  Overall, when Baldwin poses the question, “whose little boy are you?” he means, “what are you going to do? To what/whom will you belong to?”