A week into Black History Month, American writer James Baldwin and his contributions to civil rights were celebrated Tuesday evening at The University of Texas-Pan American's Student Union Theatre. As part of the library's monthlong series, Videos of 5 Major Writers of the 20th Century, a 1990 documentary titled "James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket," was screened by an audience of 50 students, staff and faculty.
A discussion after the film, second of the five scheduled for the month of February, was led by Professor Mychal Odom. The issues touched on were those which Baldwin and his contemporaries expressed passion for through their work: diversity, equality and social justice. What makes Baldwin particularly important, said Odom, is his doubly oppressed existence as a gay African American living in white society.
"James was an advocate for equality and was never a pessimist," said Odom, who is a part-time lecturer in the Department of History and Philosophy. "During that period many people were pessimistic of each other: whites discriminated against blacks and, in turn, blacks hated whites. But he understood we were all brothers and sisters under some god."
THE FILM
In a series of past personal interviews with Baldwin and recent ones with his friends and family, the story of one of the Civil Rights Movement's most outspoken activist is told in a manner that sheds light on how important he and his work are today.
The documentary doesn't begin where he was born (in Harlem, Aug. 2, 1924), but in Saint-Paul-de-Vance, France, where he died of stomach cancer on Nov. 30, 1987.
Naturally an outcast in mainstream society because of his black skin, Baldwin knew early on of the plight of African-American people living in America.
He was first introduced to writing while working for DeWitt High School's student magazine. At 18, Baldwin graduated with a conviction to become a renowned writer. Shortly after he moved to Greenwich Village and found a place among the intellectual community, but couldn't escape the reality of hatred that permeated the times. So he moved to France in 1948, after receiving a grant with the help of one of his colleagues, writer Richard Wright. Baldwin lived abroad most of his life and it was there that he did much of his writing.
It was through his craft that he expressed anger and frustration toward white society, which culminated in a lengthy collection of essays, fiction and poetry now available all around the world.
During the fight for civil rights in the 1960s, Baldwin expressed his empathy and outrage by traveling back to the States from Europe to become a fierce supporter. He attended the march on Washington in 1963, but continued to write about contemporary issues from his beloved France up until his death.
"Having events and discussion like this allows for the intellectual growth of the student," Odom suggested. "And as long as America and the rest of the world is dealing with issues of oppression and second-class citizenship, the writings of this author will remain significant."
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Thursday, February 10th 2011 at 3:12PM
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