James Baldwin: The fire this time - from Harlem to Ferguson
In 1963, the African-American novelist, playwright, and essaying James Baldwin wrote, "To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time."
Baldwin was a fierce, but fair-minded and rigorous social critic. His opinions were neither sugar-coated, nor always welcome. But if they made people uncomfortable, it was because of the truths with which he pricked the conscience.
Baldwin became one of the greatest American writers of his time. In his classic novels, such as Go Tell It On The Mountain, Giovanni's Room and Another Country, he insisted on both the complex realities of people's lives and the simple fact of their humanity. Baldwin also became a leader of the civil rights movement. He became a national political and cultural figure with his 1963 book of essays, The Fire Next Time. . . .a book that presaged the race riots that inflamed Watts, Newark, Detroit and other cities throughout the rest of the 60s.
Baldwin died of cancer in 1987 at the age of 63. But over the past turbulent year or so, when stories of unarmed black people dying or being abused at the hands of police never seem far from the headlines. . . people are again invoking Baldwin's words to make sense of a society that seems to need reminding that Black Lives Matter.
To mark his 90th birthday last year, a number of cultural groups in New York proclaimed 2014 the Year of James Baldwin. One of those groups was New York Live Arts, a performance group that stages the annual Live Ideas Festival. Last year's version was called James Baldwin, This Time!, which reimagined the writings and legacy of Baldwin through dance, music, drama and visual arts.
Bill T. Jones is the executive artistic director of New York Live Arts, and he's one of the most celebrated dancers and choreographers in the United States. He's been the subject of several television documentaries, and his boatload of awards include two Tony Awards for choreography, a 2010 Kennedy Center Honor and the 2013 National Medal of Arts. His latest book is called Story/Time: The Life of an Idea.
Michael's interview with Bill T. Jones was first broadcast in November.