Princeton Professor/Author Eddie S. Glaude Discusses the Enduring Legacy of James Baldwin

In a dynamic online discussion last evening, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. (chair of the Princeton University Department of African American Studies and James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor) discussed the enduring relevance of James Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time,” Lawrenceville’s all-School summer read. Using his recent New York Times bestseller, “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own,” as a starting point, Glaude enabled students to deepen their understanding of “The Fire Next Time” and its connections to current social justice struggles.

Facilitated by Lawrenceville Religion and Philosophy teacher Nuri Friedlander, who also serves the School as a Diversity Coordinator, the webinar provided prompts for discussions students had today about the book and Baldwin’s reflections upon America. Lawrentians will continue to explore issues of identity throughout the year.

Glaude encouraged students to consider how Baldwin’s influences – personal, historic, and literary –effected not only “The Fire Inside” but also themselves as readers and the times in which they live.

“We are in a moment of moral reckoning. No matter how angry Baldwin got at the ongoing betrayal of the country, of us, the moral question was still at the heart of the matter. Who do you take yourself to be? Who do you aspire to be? It is a question we have to ask ourselves individually, but we also must ask ourselves as a country, who do we take ourselves to be? To answer that question, we have to be honest about what we’ve done. Who do we aspire to be? To answer that question, we have to look our ghastly failures squarely in the face,” Glaude noted. “[Baldwin said] ‘Hope is invented every day.’ And he also said that human beings are at once miracles and disasters. We have to protect ourselves from the disasters that we have become. So our history doesn’t suggest that we are going to do very well right now, but if human beings are also miracles, if we show up, if we risk everything right now, we may do something miraculous. But there is no guarantee. It is up to us.

The all-School reading and Glaude’s webinar are part of the School’s ongoing efforts to create an inclusive environment where students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to learn from, with, and about one another.

For additional information, please contact Lisa M. Gillard Hanson, director of Public Relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.