In celebration of James Baldwin’s 100th birthday, Strathmore has launched a two-month educational and creative series, featuring theatric homages and literary discussions, to honor the life and legacy of the historic writer and civil rights activist.
Beginning Aug. 2, Baldwin’s birthday, the District and some cities in Maryland began hosting sporadic events offering audiences a deep dive into the various realms of the celebrated novelist, notably his impact in theater arts, literature and social justice.
“James Baldwin’s ideas have proven to be prophetic and resonate deeply with the challenges of our current time. His voice is so present today – it feels incredibly important to shine a light on that,” said Lauren Campbell, Strathmore’s vice president of education and community engagement.
The centennial series welcomes a list of inclusive events, including a documentary screening, youth poetry reading, and Grammy-winning artist Meshell Ndegeocello concluding the celebration on Oct. 5 with a performance of her newest album, “No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin.”
Strathmore aims to not only expand attendees’ knowledge of Baldwin, but encourage them to learn and adopt some of his own critical techniques, both in writing and film.
Thought-provoking sessions, such as author and literary activist E. Ethelbert Miller’s reexamination of Baldwin’s “The Devil Finds Work” on Sept. 26, introduce the analytical aspect of his creativity and teach the value of applying some of his viewpoints to later works.
For Miller, “The Devil Finds Work,” a book-length essay critiquing the racial politics of American cinema, is one of many crucial aspects of connecting modern society with Baldwin.
“I felt that one can learn a lot by how Baldwin critiques some of these movies. When you see [old] movies through the eyes of Baldwin, you realize that this person has real skill and intellect in terms of breaking down things that you may not see. You may have to go see the movie two or three times before you see what Baldwin sees,” he said.
Baldwin’s Influence in Today’s Society
Miller recalls being introduced to Baldwin during his time at Howard University, and resonated deeply with his essays and dissection of the Civil Rights Movement.
He cited Baldwin’s continuous grasp with the concept of love and “what was happening to us as people” that distinguished him from other activists of his time.
Miller also noted Baldwin’s transparency in navigating masculinity and love as a Black gay writer, providing a gateway for communities to find representation and acceptance in an era where social issues like The LGBTQ Movement were unheard of.
“Baldwin has a wider reception today of acceptance. I think that now that there is a gay movement, people can go back and say, ‘Here is a person who was dealing with these issues before anybody was really talking about it,’” Miller explained. “If you’re a Black, gay man [and] you know Baldwin, to see [him] celebrated reaffirms that your life has a meaning too.”
Similarly, Dr. Khalid Y. Long, associate professor of Theatre Arts at Howard University, admires Baldwin’s ability to intersect communal issues with the center stage. While profoundly recognized for his influence as an essayist and poet, Baldwin’s contributions as a playwright have also driven societal change, Long explained, and demonstrated artistry as a form of “social protest.”
With plays like “The Amen Corner (1955)” and “Blues for Mister Charlie (1964)” – his most recognized dramatic works – the dramatist fostered an environment where taboo topics and racial and gender stigmas could be explored on a deeper level.
According to Long, the constant critique of peers like Nikki Giovanni and Audre Lorde challenged Baldwin to create stories that sparked conversations and grappled with society, a platform the professor felt was best reflected in dramatic literature.
“Theater has always been sort of a technology that participated in social justice movements, and Baldwin is very much a part of that genealogy,” Long told The Informer. “If we’re talking about Baldwin, celebrating him and what he has done is also recognizing the other avenue in which he has taken, and that’s dramatic literature and theater, to participate in social movements.”
Long jumped at the opportunity for Howard University’s Department of Theater Arts to debut select scenes of Baldwin’s two famed plays on Sept. 7, as part of Strathmore’s centennial celebration. He hopes that, with this performance, audiences will recognize Baldwin’s multigenerational influence and how he shapes today’s interpretation of not only his art, but others too.
“When you look at Black theater, for me, it is about documenting everyday Black people, and Baldwin has done that significantly well,” Long expressed. “I hope that [the show] inspires people to look toward other playwrights in theater, especially Black playwrights, and look at what those plays can offer them and the wider conversations that may come from them.”
As one of the most trailblazing writers and activists of the 20th century, Baldwin’s legacy remains evident in the numerous cultural innovators who have succeeded him. While the two-month centennial programming ensues, Campbell hopes to see a world that will embody Baldwin’s spirit and passions in life.
“I want folks to walk away with a sense of what a visionary Baldwin was – and also how he was able to merge fierce critique of America’s racism with genuine love for people of all races,” she told The Informer. “Baldwin could see the darkness of our country and of all the violence we’re steeped in, but he also saw the light. That’s what we need right now.”
For the full schedule of events and registration information, go to strathmore.org.