Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who was James Baldwin and how did he approach his work as a writer? Additionally, how did his writing influence other Black writers and, by extension, American literature and culture?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to provide students with a guided notetaking sheet to gather their thoughts before engaging in discussion. The sheet might include space for biographical details about Baldwin himself and guiding questions regarding his impact and influence on his contemporaries. These and similar resources may offer context and information.

• “James Baldwin Biography” - This short article from American Masters (PBS) describes Baldwin’s life and work as a writer and activist and the influence he had on Black American literature.
• “James Baldwin: His Voice Remembered; Life in His Language” - Toni Morrison wrote this memorializing obituary in The New York Times after Baldwin’s death in 1987. In it, she celebrates not only Baldwin and his life and work, but the influence he had on many other Black artists, Morrison included.