Before he was known as James Baldwin, he was Jimmy, growing up in Harlem during the Great Depression. Author Michelle Meadows here gives us a lyrical biography of Baldwin from childhood onward, capturing something of the rhythm of his work in her blank verse.
Baldwin grew up, we learn, with a harsh, preacher father and a loving mother, searching with his brothers for bread to eat. We see his early encounters with racism—but also the teachers and mentors who recognized and nurtured his writing talent. As a young teen, he remained scared of his father and of the crime on the streets, but also “He was scared of his sexuality because he loved a boy.” Still, “Writing helped him discover true power … And with this power, Jimmy felt unstoppable.”
Nevertheless, he struggled to get published, and suffered through the deaths of close friends and of his father. He left for France, seeking freedom from discrimination. There, he met Swiss painter Lucien Happersberger, and “fell in love.” He finished his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and continued to write stories inspired by his life and ones that bore witness to the devastating effects of racism and segregation. Meadows writes:
Jimmy captured the nation’s suffering—
the hopes and dreams
for love and humanity—
energizing people of all ages and races
to open their minds to new ways of thinking.
This is an outstanding biography, offering young readers just enough detail about Baldwin’s life and importance to be informative without overwhelming; incorporating both his Black and gay identities; and honoring Baldwin’s legacy in the rhythm of the text itself. Jamiel Law’s warm, evocative illustrations are the perfect complement to Meadows’ words.
Backmatter includes an Author’s Note, Timeline, a list of Baldwin’s works, and Selected Sources.
Highly recommended.
