I feel so connected to him
James Baldwin has real estate in my heart
For whatever reason, this picture from the other day made my mind go to pictures of James Baldwin in Architectural Digest.
Even though I am in Texas 4,000 miles away from where he was in France, I love that I thought of him.
When I am reading or working on ‘Black Stories We Should All Know’, there are times I come across people who move me deeply. I find myself wanting to know everything about them.
James Baldwin is one of those people.
I am not alone in being drawn to him because there are people who are top Baldwin scholars.
He fascinates me.
He makes me think I could ‘niche down’ and talk about one person.
Imagine if all of the work I put out was around James Baldwin?!? In my mind, it’s totally possible. His life was THAT impactful and well-lived!
Reading his work, listening to interviews, and learning about him, is my way of connecting with him.
I recently pulled out this book again so I can continue to feel that sense of connection.
That is one of the beautiful things about books - we kinda get to have a conversation with the author - at least know what they were thinking.
here are the pictures I was thinking of…..
You ever experience this?
I mean have you come across someone and you just want to know everything about them - they move you in a way that you can’t necessarily put words to?
If so, who is that person for you?
Thanks so much for being here.
See ya next Sunday!
Hugs, Love, and Gratitude Y’all!
Sally Mc
have you been listening to meshell nedegeocello’s new album? no more water—about james baldwin?? forgive me if that’s silly to ask. but sometimes things that seem obvious get missed🤷🏻♀️.
my husband is a huge sportsball fan, but also becoming increasingly hard of hearing and not always picking up stuff on social media. So things I assume he would’ve seen about favorite players or topics he is interested in— well I’ve just decided I’m gonna drop things like happy marshmallows into everybody’s path!
Jimmy was one of my mentors. I was one of the lucky students to get to ‘study’ creative writing with him in the Five College Consortium in Mass. He was precious. We became close. We were both Harlemites. Decades apart, of course, but Harlemites. In fact our first homes were two blocks from each other. When I was growing up Jimmy’s books were like furniture in our house. Wonderful. This year is the 100th Anniversary of his birth. I have a program from the New York celebration. I have no idea how to share it (and my pic with him) on this page!