I must admit that I didn’t know much about James Baldwin or his work before entering the James Baldwin Centennial: Native Son, Global Voice exhibit at Alexander Library. I’d heard of his name and a few works like Go Tell It on the Mountain and If Beale Street Could Talk. It’s probably astounding to a lot of Baldwin fans that I didn’t know him that well. However, as part of my own way to celebrate Black History Month this year, I thought it would be a great idea to educate myself on Baldwin’s incredible contributions to art, race, sexuality, identity, and social justice.
To celebrate Baldwin’s 100th birthday, students from Rutgers University professor Maurice Wallace’s African American Literature course, English 370: Black Narrative, curated a powerful exhibit. As soon as I walked in, I heard Baldwin’s voice on audio from one of his speeches, already immersing me back into twentieth century America. The exhibit starts with Black, Queer and Broke, signifying the fact that Baldwin was born and raised in Harlem, New York, where racism in America was at its all-time high.
From there, the exhibit transforms to an international flare, from “Chez Baldwin,” his home in St. Paul de Vence, France from 1971-1987, to “Bazaar of Baldwin” in Turkey. This section explores how Baldwin was able to face his issues and explore his creative mindset. Hung on the white walls were black framed quotes from some of his most profound works, including Giovanni’s Room and Notes of a Native Son. The right side of the exhibit showcases a huge, colorful quilt titled “Red, White and Baldwin”, made by Kenya Baleech Alkebu and assembled and hand quilted by Maureen Kelleher.
“I guess, you might be asking, “Why this subject?” Alkebu stated in an audio transcript from the Zimmerli Arts Museum. “Well, the way I see it, James Baldwin is a champion of free speech. And his international prominence muffled the drumbeat of those who thought ex-slaves inferior, giving me, a neo-slave, reason and cause to live out loud, to come out from the shadows. It’s an honor to celebrate the legacy of James Baldwin. The colors here represent the witness or witnesses to diversity in crisis. James Baldwin, of course, taught of the subject of color. And it’s one that has occupied the thought and effort of alchemists, scientists, writers, philosophers, and psychologists, not to mention art enthusiasts, for centuries. It’s by no means that straight forward. The colors chosen is central to all we do.”
Kelleher co-founded the Social Justice Collaboration Quilts Project with Alkebu, who is incarcerated at Louisiana State Penitentiary. It was amazing to see how two people who come from different walks of life could collaborate on a project to celebrate Baldwin’s legacy.
Other features of the exhibit include Baldwin’s handwritten journals and nonfiction works written during his time in Harlem, New York in the 1970s such as Just Above My Head, No Name in the Street and Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone. More features of the exhibit are publications about Baldwin, like the Manchester University Press edited by Dwight McBride. The James Baldwin Review, Volume 9, was published by the Manchester University Press in September 2023. The exhibit’s plaque reads The James Baldwin Review is an “annual collection of peer-reviewed work on the life and legacy of James Baldwin, both creative and critical. Its aim is to not only build upon Baldwin scholarship but also to inspire future literary scholars to study this influential author.” On the exhibit’s plaque is also James Baldwin Now, a “book of research and writing by several leading scholars on James Baldwin’s life and art.” There are also some old photos and archives of Baldwin with famous friends. These photos and archives expressed how beloved Baldwin was in his lifetime.
The end of the exhibit features a journal for visitors to share their thoughts, questions, reflection for Baldwin, the world or themselves. The plaque near the journal states, “Baldwin wanted us to become in touch with our internal selves, to be lettered in ‘the language of the heart.’” The journal is filled with messages from Rutgers students, teachers and librarians. There is no doubt that Baldwin is somewhere smiling above at all this work Maurice Wallace and his students created in his honor.
How to find Baldwin’s books
Multiple copies and editions of Baldwin’s books are available from Rutgers University Libraries.
- To find a specific book, type in the title quotes “Go Tell It on the Mountain” in QuickSearch
- Use the advanced search function in QuickSearch to browse titles by selecting “Author” in the pulldown and typing in Baldwin’s name. Select “books” from “Resource types” in the top right corner
- You can combine these searches and select more options in the left panel, such as ”Available online”
Missed the exhibit?
- See a few photos online