A Look at James Baldwin’s Enduring Influence on Art and Activism
Ask students: Who is James Baldwin? What are some topics that Baldwin wrote about?
Summary
The legendary writer and activist James Baldwin would have turned 100 this month. He is best known for his novels and essays and as a moral voice addressing race, sexuality and the very fabric of American democracy. Jeffrey Brown looks at Baldwin's enduring legacy for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Warm-Up Questions
- Who is James Baldwin?
- What are some topics that Baldwin wrote about?
- When did Baldwin die?
- Where did Baldwin spend much of his life outside of the United States?
- How have other writers and artists commemorated Baldwin's work?
Focus Questions
After watching this profile, what do you think is the most important aspect of Baldwin's legacy as a writer and activist? How do you think he most impacted art and culture?
Media literacy: Why do you think Baldwin's work is so celebrated in the present day?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
For More
What students can do:
Learn more about activism in art using this Daily News Lesson.
This post was written by Gianfranco Beran, a senior at Amherst College, and an intern with PBS NewsHour Classroom, and edited by NewsHour's Luke Gerwe.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Want to see more stories like this one? Subscribe to the SML e-newsletter!
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
Advertisement
