Timeline: James Baldwin

Aug 2, 1924

Birth

An important event that starts every person on this planet. James Baldwin was born on August 2nd 1924 in Harlem New York. His parents are Emma Berdis Jones and step-father or actual father David Baldwin.

1938

Fireside pentecostal assembly

James baldwin was a priest at age 14-17 at fireside pentecostal assembly.

1942

Highschool graduation.

James Baldwin's step father dies. He's struggling to support a very large family, so he's getting by.

1948

Moving to France

He moved away from America to not just be seen as merely a black person or just a black writer.

1953

Go Tell it on the Mountain

James Baldwin's first novel, which is about a young lad named John Grimes. It deals with issues such as religion crisis, race, racism, and coming of age struggle.

1954

The Amen Corner

James Baldwin's first attempt at theater

Nov 21, 1955

Notes of a Native son

A collection of essays published by James Baldwin. Mostly about tackling issues of race in America.

1956

Giovanni's Room

A Book that James baldwin wrote about an American man living in france who struggles with his feelings for men, a particular man named Giovanni who he encounters in a gay bar. This novel brought homosexuality and bisexuality representation.

1957

Sonny's Blues

This is a book about some guy who discovers his brother got arrested for selling and using heroin. James Baldwin tackles a drug issue in this novel.

1960

Civil Rights Movement

James Baldwin was involved in the civil rights movement. He was mainly known for going and speaking to the south.

1962

Another Country

Another novel by James Baldwin that had themes of bisexuality, interracial relationships, and extramarital affairs. Topics that were taboo in his time.

1963

The Fire Next Time

Two essays written by James Baldwin that highlight the racial tensions in America.

Jun 12, 1963

Medgar Evers assasination.

Medgar evers was a civil rights activist and a world war II soldier.

1964

Blues for Mister Charlie

A tragedy that James Baldwin wrote in three acts. It is based on a real life murder.

1968

Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone

Another Novel of James's that deals with racism, bisexuality, white privilege, among other things. It is essentially about a black man and his white partner.

Apr 4, 1968

Martin Luther King death

The day he was shot.

1972

No Name On the Street

This is a book that James Baldwin published that is written from his own perspective of historical events he has lived through. Some of the important figures in the book that were very important Was MLK, Bobby Seale, Malcolm X, and Huey Newton.

1974

If Beale Street Could Talk

This is a touching book about childhood friends that dream of a future together. Unfortunately that future comes to a stop when one of the character is arrested for a crime that he did not commit. He doesn't seem to get out of jail anytime soon even though at the end James gives us a glimmer of hope that he will get out of jail.

1976