Baldwin About His Experience As A Black American In 1962

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James Baldwin's book "The Fire Next Time"
Baldwin focuses on the ‘Negro problem’ in the 1950’s and 1960’s with growing calls for ending discrimination against African Americans with the issue in the public discourse. Baldwin was conflicted on whether religion was essential for emancipation and the place of African Americans in the US. The author explored race and religion in both my dangerous shook and down at the cross, which are different sections of the book. The dangers of degrading, disenfranchising dehumanizing, and socially excluding black people increased tension and social conflicts in the 1960’s and even now.
Baldwin was concerned that degrading and dehumanizing African Americans had long-term ramifications for the American society further straining relations between the majority White and African Americans. Even though, the author, was angry at the treatment of the Black people he implored his nephew to exercise caution and restraint. Baldwin articulated a vision where people worked together and did not violent revenge to address the race issues in the US. As such, he advised his nephew to be open-minded and compassionate even as the Black Americans had been degraded. “Know whence you came.  If you know whence your came, there is really no limit to where you can go,” (Baldwin 7).
As Baldiwn remembered living in Harlem, he was anxious that race relations would deteriorate even as the people living in the isolated cities of destruction had no hope. The message that the lives of African Americans did not count, has parallels with the experiences of some African Americans living in inner cities. When there are calls for changes to the criminal justice system are ignored and opponents simply state that the police are dealing with ‘thugs’ this worsens relations. The dehumanization of African Americans that is associated with the disrespect and disregard of their concerns.
Believing all the negative things that people say may affect their perception and interaction with people different from them. “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger. I tell you this because I love you, and please don’t forget it.” (Baldwin 2). As black people lived in the isolated city as described by Baldwin there was constant communication that they were not part of America, as though they deserved degradation and dehumanization that they encountered in the form of racist policies and disenfranchisement.
“White Americans have thought of it as their shame, and have envied those more civilized and elegant European nations that were untroubled by the presence of black men on their shores (Baldwin 22).” In the passage Baldwin pointed out that there were sections of America who envied the Europeans who did not take slaves and there were no concerns that ‘less civilized’ dark skinned people would play prominent roles in the society. As such, African Americans ought to have been aware that they would not be readily accepted. Even today people most likely to list their ancestry as American tend to be overwhelmingly White, and Black Americans are cast as...