James baldwin author biography worksheet

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In mid-century America, this was not yet accepted.

  • At DeWitt Clinton High School, Baldwin edited the school literary magazine Magpie and was a member of the literary club.
  • In 1942, he witnessed his father’s death in the midst of the Harlem Race Riot of 1943.
  • The loss of his father forced James Baldwin to become the father figure for his 8 siblings. 
  • He decided to work minimum paying jobs during the day and play guitar in Greenwich Village cafes in the evenings. 
  • In between, Baldwin continued writing in the hope of someday fulfilling his dream to become a great writer.

    • WRITING CAREER

    • In 1944, Baldwin saw an opportunity to rekindle his goal when he met Richard Wright, a famous African-American male writer of the time. 
    • The latter becomes his mentor.

      Popular titles included are Sonny's Blues; This Morning, This Evening, So Soon; and The Man Child.

      As a gay Black man coming to terms with his identity in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, Baldwin—who died on December 1, 1987—used his distinct perspective and lyrical writing to shed light on issues of race, homosexuality, and religion in a way that placed him ahead of his time when it came to social commentary.

      From Go Tell It on the Mountain to Giovanni's Roomand If Beale Street Could Talk, which was adapted for the big screen in 2019, we've gathered some of Baldwin's most popular texts, all of which are still essential reading today.

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      I had to deal, above all, with my father."

      Notes of a Native Son

      Notes of a Native Son       (1955)

      In this collection of essays, the writer captured the complexities of being Black in America during the first rumblings of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s.

      You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

    10 James Baldwin Books to Read in Your Lifetime

    James Baldwin is an iconic author for our time, a writer who gave the world countless poignant essays, shorts stories, novels, plays, and poems during his 63 years.

    . A technically complex, African American musical sub-genre with an emphasis on solo performances, bebop is the perfect vehicle for both reaffirming the importance of heritage and also allowing for individual expression.

    Sonny’s Blues Questions and Answers

    The Question and Answer section for Sonny’s Blues is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

    Spanning over a decade, the works cover a wide range of topics, including racism, sexuality, and the creative process. Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

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    Throughout the rest of the novel, he reflects on the events of his life—both those that led him to fame and those that revealed his weaknesses.

    If Beale Street Could Talk

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    If Beale Street Could Talk     (1974)

    Now a Golden Globe-nominated film directed by Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk follows young couple Fonny and Tish as they deal with the trial and jailing of Fonny, who is falsely accused of rape.

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    One of James Baldwin’s earliest works, “Sonny’s Blues” is a perennial favorite of college anthologies and perhaps his most widely read short story. And don't worry: we've included a complete list of his life's work, too—because they're all worthy of praise. By combining an unpublished manuscript called Remember This House and varied excerpts from Baldwin's book, notes, interviews, and letters, Raul Peck edited and published the story that the literary great never got to see come to life.

    james baldwin author biography worksheet

    Upon reaching high school, Baldwin showed potential as a great author.

  • Baldwin attended Frederick Douglass Junior High School, where he met his mentor, Countee Cullen, a Harlem Renaissance poet, who became his role model.
  • As a teenager, he suffered discrimination after people learned of his homosexuality. . A selection of Baldwin's new and revised works, many of the titles originally appeared in publications like Esquire and The New York Times Magazine.

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    • assign students to find all the answers or
    • divide the questions and let students teach each other as they discover the answers.

    You can also . There, he learned to love reading and writing. Depending on your class time and your individual students, you can .

    The younger, a heroin addict and jazz musician, struggles to transform his suffering and the suffering of his community into music.