The Fire Next Time

A detailed Summary of The Fire Next Time

James Baldwin wrote The Fire Next Time in 1962. America was a nation in crisis at the beginning of this decade. The decision to send troops to Vietnam caused much debate across the country. Integration of schools began the previous decade but had been meant with misgivings, fear, and often violence. America was still segregated by color, as Blacks and Whites were not treated equally. James Baldwin was an angry black man who desperately wanted Blacks to be treated as equals. He wrote The Fire Next Time to wake up White America and proclaim the black man's existence as a superior human being. He also wrote to the black man telling him to no longer accept second-class status. It was time to fight for their rights. To illustrate this point, Baldwin related the atrocities the white man had inflicted upon the black man in America. His work contains many racist slurs directed toward the white man, how the black man related to White America up until the 1960's, and illustrated the immediate changes needed to claim his rightful status in American society.

James Baldwin makes it clear in The Fire Next Time that White America's inability to care is the reason for their mistreatment of Bl

James Baldwin forcefully relates his point that white men are bad and the black man has suffered tremendously and really is a good and productive human being. In this, he was effective. However, he carries the hatred theme to the extreme. Comments such as, "The white man's world is the black man's hell" and, "Throw off the chains of my slave master, the devil..." fill the entire book. Baldwin evokes a sense of anger from both the black man and the white man alike, although for different reasons. For the black man, Baldwin serves as an inspiration. He encourages Black Americans to stand up and demand the rights the United States Constitution gives them. For the white man, Baldwin serves as a fearful warning. Without change toward acceptance and equality of Black and White, America could face a second civil war, this time Black versus White.

James Baldwin died November 30, 1987 of stomach cancer. In his lifetime he never saw the civil war he proclaimed would free the black man in America. He did see civil unrest, riots, and a stronger and more united voice for black people. Changes did begin to occur in the 1960's and are continuing today. These changes have not been overnight and probably too slow for Baldwin. It would be interesting to hear his opinion of White Americans, and what should be done to create more equality for the black man as the twenty-first century begins.

acks. "White people in this country will have quite enough to do in learning how to accept and love themselves and each other, and when they have achieved this which will not be tomorrow and may very well be never-the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it will no longer be needed." Another words, White Americans treat Negroes poorly because they treat their own race poorly. To some extent this is true. It is a common everyday occurrence to turn on the television and see violence between white men, as well as violenc

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Approximate Word count = 1296
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels