Unknown

European James Baldwin

By Breezy_Mack
  • Everybody's Protest Novel

    Everybody's Protest Novel

    First essay published in Partisan Review: “Everybody’s Protest Novel.
  • Arrest in Paris- "It was the first time the word stolen entered my mind." (Baldwin 146)

    Arrest in Paris- "It was the first time the word stolen entered my mind." (Baldwin 146)

    James Baldwin was arrested as a receiver of stolen goods, a bed sheet, along with his fast time New Yorker friend thus beginning his 8 day span in prison.
  • Christmas Behind Bars

    Christmas Behind Bars

    Baldwin asked to go to Mass and was taken from his cell in a wagon to the prison chapel. Where he listened to the songs outside in the freezing cold and remembered the importance of Jesus Christ's love.
  • Life Beyond Bars

    Life Beyond Bars

    Having a positive moment with his cellmates playing a simple match- sticks game, Baldwin regained hope that he would eventually leave prison.
  • FREEDOM

    FREEDOM

    The case against James Baldwin and the New Yorker was dismissed and he was allowed to return to America.
  • Arrival to Switzerland - “From all available evidence no black man had ever set foot in this tiny Swiss village before I came” (Baldwin 163)

    Arrival to Switzerland - “From all available evidence no black man had ever set foot in this tiny Swiss village before I came” (Baldwin 163)

    Key of this moment is the emphasis he indirectly places on himself of how significant his presence in the town was considering the lack of necessities and entertainment to distract the villagers. http://www.sashahuber.com/?cat=10075
  • Village Tradition - Buying “Africans” For Their Sake- “People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them” (Baldwin 167)

    Village Tradition - Buying “Africans” For Their Sake- “People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them” (Baldwin 167)

    Church has a slot box to collect money (francs) year round decorated with a black figurine. Baldwin comes across village children who are painted with blackened faces with rough textured wigs who go around soliciting money for the missionaries in Africa.
    https://www.britannica.com/place/Switzerland/World-War-I-and-economic-crisis
  • End of Switzerland: Baldwin's Declaration- "This world is white no longer, and it will never be white again" (Baldwin 179)

    End of Switzerland: Baldwin's Declaration- "This world is white no longer, and it will never be white again" (Baldwin 179)

    Baldwin recognizes that the village he is in is still stuck in a passive period of still being “amazed” by the African American and has yet to evolve to America’s mindset of the time BUT he tells America it will never go back to this.
    https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/black-body-re-reading-james-baldwins-stranger-village.
  • Go Tell It on the Mountain

    Go Tell It on the Mountain

    James Baldwin finished writing his first novel "Go Tell It on the Mountain" in Loèche-les-Bains, Switzerland.