The Importance of Reading James Baldwin’s 1962 “A Letter to my Nephew”
No other piece outlines the realities of racism, oppression, power and privilege in America, then and now
Imagine having to write a letter to a child you love preparing them for the racism they will encounter in their lives? Imagine it.
Now, read it:
Finished? Let’s discuss.
Baldwin’s “Letter” outlines so many vital parts and aspects of the way racism exists and operates in daily life, via its hold on past generations, and its kneecapping of the potential of the youth and future generations.
Baldwin writes with beautiful, profound, deep frustration. Stating that he started the letter five times and ripped it up because it was so hard, so painful to have to write this letter at all.
He writes with moving hope and longing for his nephew, for his brother, for himself, and for the future of both white and black people in America. He writes with the wisdom gained from a lifetime of oppression and a lifetime of resisting this oppression with…
