The recent documentary, I Am Not Your Negro, by Raul Peck has led to a surge of interest in James Baldwin’s life and legacy. Beyond the image presented in the film Baldwin’s writing voice was challenging as was his vision for America. This workshop, led by Johari Jabir of the University of Illinois-Chicago, will engage two of Baldwin’s texts: his short story, Sonny’s Blues and his classic essay, The Fire Next Time. We will perform close readings of these texts in order to explore why and how Baldwin’s work speaks to us today.

The workshop will be:
Tuesday, January 23, 4:30 pm
Outpost Cooperative Learning Center
1617 W North Avenue
Milwaukee

Please RSVP to Rachel Buff (rbuff@uwm.edu) as soon as possible.

Copies of Baldwin’s classic, The Fire Next Time, will also be available, free of charge, through the Cultures and Communities office to the first 10 people who RSVP.

Sponsored by: UWM Cultures and Communities and the Marquette University Center for Urban Research,Teaching, and Outreach

A copy of “Sonny’s Blues” is available here:

James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues”