Dr. Ian Afflerbach's discussion on James Baldwin's essay, "Notes of a Native Son," is the fourth in an ongoing series on race in American culture.
During the struggle for Civil Rights, James Baldwin was widely regarded as the "conscience of a nation," the most influential essayist in the country. In moments of crisis, Americans struggling over race relations eagerly awaited the word of this influential journalist, whose essays were always deeply personal and yet socially vital. In this event, we'll be discussing one of Baldwin's most famous pieces, "Notes of a Native Son," which describes two overlapping events in his life: the 1943 race rioting in Harlem, and the death of his father. Please read the essay in advance. During our meeting, we'll discuss how these events mixed in Baldwin's mind, and what lessons he had to learn--too late--from his father's life and death.
Copies of "Notes of a Native Son" are available in paperback, eBook, and eAudiobook format.
About Dr. Ian Afflerbach
Dr. Ian Afflerbach is an Assistant Professor of American Literature at the University of North Georgia, where he teaches and researches in 20th century American literature, political history, African-American studies, and the history of ideas.
He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and has lived in Montreal, Vermont, North Carolina, and Germany. His writing has appeared in journals like English Literary History, Modern Fiction Studies, and Studies in the Novel. He was named a 2019 Fellow by the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies in Mainz, Germany.
TAGS: | Literature | Guest Lecture |
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