The fact that James Baldwin is not taught in schools proves everything about American education you need to know.

"I can't be a pessimist because I'm alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter. So I am forced to be an optimist. I forced to believe that we can survive. And we must survive."

James Baldwins work is, perhaps, more relevant than ever. Should be on the school curriculum

In this clip you can truly see how heavily the issues of the day weighed on him.

they still have not listened to you my friend.....from 2020

Every American, every person should be just as familiar with James Baldwin as they are with Martin Luther King, if not moreso. Where MLK was inspiring, Baldwin was insightful.

Still relevant in 2020, Brilliant mind this man had.

That is the voice of a brilliant, weary man.

Powerful insightful relevant today as back then.

I’ve never heard of James Baldwin until now. I’ll do what my school failed to do and actually educate myself

“It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have”.

Love how he talks ....so soothing. I can feel the heaviness of his heart.

. "If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there's no progress. If you pull it all the way out that's not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven't even pulled the knife out much less heal the wound"... Malcolm X

This man is a beautiful soul, he's keeping hope alive but he has suffered, his eyes say it all, the pain, he has bared witness to a lot with his eyes, horrors I'm sure. He has suffered.

My God, what a man. The ending part of this film was so powerful and struck a cord in me in so many ways. It's amazing how someone could put into words what so many people of color have been saying. But in a way that makes you truly reflect on these questions as a reflection of yourself. It's so sad that I wasn't taught this in school or allowed to read his work.

Mr. James Baldwin was a GIANT his analysis of race in America was spot on and too intelligent for the purveyors of their own racist ideology.

Last school year my English teacher dedicated majority of the semester to discuss racial, gender, immigration, and poverty issues. We watched this movie in class and read a bunch of James Baldwin’s writings. It was a wonderful experience. I loved it even more because my teacher was a white male. I never had a white teacher before who openly talk about these issues. When we started these topics he straight up said as a white straight man he could never fully understand what it is like to be anything but that but he he will try his best to discuss the subjects(mainly by having us as a class lead the discussion and him saying as a moderator/guide). I believe all schools should undergo a deep dive like we did. Before that all of history or English would talk about slavery and Jim Crow, and would very briefly talk about the major racial problems still present today. I had to teach myself about ongoing racial themes. Not every child is willing to go that extra mile. It is so important school’s teaching about ongoing racial issues or those children(the future voters and leaders of our nation/world) will live a in a blissful ignorance which could have been torn down as a youth

Mr. Baldwin he was a great writer. As an imigrant, I recommend all his books. His message is still so power in today world

I just discovered James Baldwin and his poetic brilliance. Every time I hear him speak, my heart aches and breaks a little more. 💔

What a brilliant well-spoken man.