The Public James Baldwin

Abstract

As this essay notes, James Baldwin, his words and metaphors, pervade public space at countless numbers of intersections. Lines from his plays, novels, and essays have always been an easy and handy reference for writers and artists seeking ways to ground their intentions with deeper meaning and magic. Even in a minority opinion on 22 June 2016 written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, she cited several authors, including Baldwin, to underscore her point on the Court’s abrogation of the Fourth Amendment.

Keywords

• The Price of the Ticket, Karen Thorsen, cinéma-vérité, Harlem Renaissance, “Sonny’s Blues,” NY Council of the Humanities, Library of America, democracy