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A review by shirin_mandi
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
4.0
“I left the church twenty years ago and I haven’t joined anything since.” It was my way of saying that I did not intend to join their movement, either.
“And what are you now?” Elijah asked.
I was in something of a bind, for I really could not say—could not allow myself to be stampeded into saying—that I was a Christian. “I? Now? Nothing.” This was not enough. “I’m a writer. I like doing things alone.”
****
“I love a few people and they love me and some of them are white, and isn’t love more important than color?”
****
One cannot argue with anyone’s experience or decision or belief.
****
We should certainly know by now that it is one thing to overthrow a dictator or repel an invader and quite another thing really to achieve a revolution.
“And what are you now?” Elijah asked.
I was in something of a bind, for I really could not say—could not allow myself to be stampeded into saying—that I was a Christian. “I? Now? Nothing.” This was not enough. “I’m a writer. I like doing things alone.”
****
“I love a few people and they love me and some of them are white, and isn’t love more important than color?”
****
One cannot argue with anyone’s experience or decision or belief.
****
We should certainly know by now that it is one thing to overthrow a dictator or repel an invader and quite another thing really to achieve a revolution.