A review by kurtwombat
Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

5.0

A mostly marvelous meditation on James Baldwin’s place in the world. Not a biography so much as a walk with the author Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. through Baldwin’s writing and activism. At turns informative, inspiring and heart breaking. Maintaining the hope and empathy that informed his writing despite being ground under the heels of America for being gay, black and outspoken came at a great personal cost. The title BEGIN AGAIN refers to a reintroduction to James Baldwin and to his constant reapplication of self to the struggle. The wave must keep coming even though the shore it beats upon changes from George Wallace, to Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. Baldwin’s realization of this is pivotal and the drive behind the author’s pursuing this book. BEGIN AGAIN does a nice job giving a feel for Baldwin’s voice without drowning the text with long quotes. Glaude too writes with some eloquence but on occasion is a bit intrusive—my only real quibble here—wanting to be a gilded frame around a classic painting.