James Baldwin was an American writer born in 1924 in Harlem, New York. He grew up in poverty with his mother and eight siblings. Baldwin developed a passion for writing at a young age and served as a youth minister in his teens. Though the church shaped his life, he rejected Christianity at age 17. After high school, Baldwin took odd jobs to support his family instead of attending college. He explored themes of race, identity, and social issues in his influential writings.

1. James Baldwin
“I knew I was black, of course, but, I also knew I was smart. I didn’t know how I
would use my mind or even if I could but that was the only thing I had to use”
 August 2nd 1924 – December 1st 1987
 Explored racial and social issues
 Themes: Church, self, city & race
 James Baldwin was born to Emma Jones in Harlem hospital. She did not
tell him who his biological father was Jones married David Baldwin when
James was three years old.
 James was the oldest of 9 children and grew up in poverty

2.  By age 14 spend most of his time in libraries and developed a passion for
writing. He also served as a youth minister between the ages of 14 to 16 in a
Harlem Pentecostal church.
 He attended Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx where he worked on
the schools magazine. For the magazine, he published numerous short
stories, plays and poems.
 Although the church shaped his life and writing tremendously, at age 17 he
deemed Christianity falsely premised.
 After graduating high school, put his college dreams aside to take whatever
jobs he could get to help support his family.

3. Works Cited
 Kinnamon, Keneth. "James Baldwin: Overview." Reference Guide to American Literature. Ed. Jim Kamp. 3rd
ed. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994.Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 July 2012.
 Miller, D. Quentin. "James Baldwin: Overview." Contemporary Popular Writers. Ed. Dave Mote. Detroit: St.
James Press, 1997. Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 July 2012.