Century II spotlights James Baldwin

Thought provoked silence filled the lounge on the second floor of the Memorial Student Center as James A. Hill Jr. discussed the literary works of James Baldwin Monday.

The event was hosted by the Century Two Reading Committee and is held annually during homecoming week.

"This book review is meant to be a cultural experience, and we have been putting on this event since 1978," stated Dr. Clarissa Booker, committee chairman.

This year's focus was on James Baldwin, an influential black author and well-known civil right activist.

The review began with a short video depicting Baldwin's life.

The video described how Baldwin, with only a high school education, wrote a number of novels that focused on race and religious issues during the 1950s.

"To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time," stated Baldwin on the footage.

The short film also featured David Baldwin, his brother, who spoke about Baldwin's life.

"When he spoke on serious issues it was just something about him that made you want to listen to what he had to say," he said.

After the video, guest speaker Hill, a Prairie View alumnus and senior desktop support analyst, focused on Baldwin's autobiography, "Go Tell It on the Mountain."

The autobiography is about one day in Baldwin's life when he was 14 years old living in Harlem as an ordained preacher. It explores issues such as religion, racism, and poverty, according to Hill.

Hill described the novel as having very powerful dialogue and would recommend it only to people who are truly interested in finding out more about Baldwin's life.

"When I read this novel it was clear to me that Baldwin was not going to hold anything back and was really brutally honest when it came to his opinions on issues," Hill said.

Crystal Matthews, a senior business major, said, "I loved the book review. It really opened my eyes to who Baldwin was and made me realize that I need to learn more about him."

Baldwin was openly homosexual and was known for writing in a way that allowed white people to sympathize with blacks.

To address his sexuality Baldwin wrote "Giovanni's Room."

"I really just wrote this novel so I did not have to feel like someone was telling me that I was homosexual. I wanted to be able to say I told you," stated Baldwin in an interview about the novel.

Baldwin died in 1987 leaving behind his literary works, which are now considered a part of the canon of literature.