James Baldwin embodied intersectionality well before Kimberlé Crenshaw developed the word to link the overlapping oppression experienced by those with multiple marginalized identities. The revolutionary Black gay writer and public intellectual tackled race, sexuality and class with a precision that defined race and sexuality discourse, ensuring his continued relevance in a world still wracked by versions of the structural inequities he explored.
The world celebrated his birthday today (August 2), making his name a trending topic on Twitter with clips and excerpts of his classic speeches and literature:
"They’ve always known that you are not a mule." ~James Baldwin #HappyBirthdayJamesBaldwin pic.twitter.com/JKZYhiamS0
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) August 2, 2016
James Baldwin on when a black child realizes he is black in a country that is his home yet has not place for you pic.twitter.com/abo99lrgnn
— Benjamin Dixon (@TheBpDShow) August 2, 2016
Happy birthday, James Baldwin. (this is from The Fire Next Time) pic.twitter.com/II39cEdBU5
— Bim Adewunmi (@bimadew) August 2, 2016
James Baldwin talks to Esquire about protests & riots in 1968. Entire piece is a must read: https://t.co/IgFIaATFm2 pic.twitter.com/FMxN993JGY
— Leah Wright Rigueur (@LeahRigueur) August 2, 2016
Thank you James Baldwin! You weren’t just a writer, you were a prophet as well. pic.twitter.com/zAIvXYPbZX
— TyreeBP (@TyreeBP) August 2, 2016
How dope is it to see James Baldwin trending. We are better than we care to know. pic.twitter.com/bVT2Na5kix
— Craig Brimm (@Kissmyblackads) August 2, 2016
"Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within." #HBD, #JamesBaldwin pic.twitter.com/DYQCzknIkZ
— Semhar (@Semhar) August 2, 2016
We invite you to celebrate Baldwin’s birthday with an excerpt from his classic "Notes of a Native Son" that centers on America’s dehumanization of Black people. Read the selected passage here.