Being gay, dark-skinned, and poor in the early 20th century could have led to an unfortunate end for James Baldwin—but he achieved his dreams through his commitment to one important thing.
The church and his domineering stepfather governed Baldwin’s childhood, but he found his voice and passion in writing.
He decided to follow what he loved – and it became his saving grace.
A writing fellowship led him to Paris, and it was with the distance from America that he finally saw himself: "I [saw] where I came from very clearly … I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I must deal with both," Baldwin once told The New York Times.
Baldwin saw all the glory, beauty, and tragedy of his childhood upbringing – despite how poor, devastating and oppressive it was. Still, he treated his own life, people, and history with powerful love.
“We’re more enthusiastic than we ever have been here,” said incarcerated striker Kinetik Justice. “We are prepared to go on strike back-to-back, over and over again, every day, every month. We’re no longer going to sit here and accept being treated as less than human beings.”