James Baldwin Classroom, basement

This space supported by ​Lana & Chris Finley

Hailing from Harlem, New York, James Baldwin (1924–1987) was one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. In 1948, at age 24, he moved to Paris to escape the racism he experienced in the United States. While living there, Baldwin published his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), a semi-autobiographical story of a Harlem teenager grappling with complex family and church relationships. 

After returning to the United States, Baldwin became an outspoken voice in the Civil Rights Movement. His novels, essays, and plays addressed race, class, and sexuality, earning him widespread recognition, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a lasting impact on American literature.