Baldwins Fire Next Time :: Baldwin Fire Next Time Essays

Baldwins Fire Next Time         We always say spot conquers all is comm totally said and heard in ourdaily lives.  Ironically, this is needs not true as James Baldwinviews our society.  He illustrates the stereotypes of both Blacks andWhites.  In his argumentative  autobiography,   The Fire Next Time, theauthor brilliantly perceives the idea that love, or else of fear, liberatessociety.     To truly liberate society, one must disc all over his/herindividual and personalized identity by learning to love.         Baldwin describes fear to be ignorance, and love as knowledge.He joined the congressional church due to fear. He was dismayed to becomeinvolved with his friends who began to drink and smoke.  To avoid suchsituations, Baldwin was driven into the church because he supposed thatGod and safety were synonymous.  (16)  Timidity blinded him to regardthat follow ing Gods words shielded him from the evils of society.  However,because of Baldwins love for his church, he reads the Bible, only to watch that was strictly about the teachings of White people.   He thoughtthat going to the church will protect him, and shield him against what hefeared.  Instead of freeing the community of interests from discrimination betweenBlacks and Whites,  the Bible supported the existence of racial barriers byteaching one should behave. Realizing the hypprocarcy involved withChristianity, the author broke away from the congressional church, tosearch his own way of liberating the society.               Baldwin emphasizes that liberation is love, and love is more beta than color.  (71)  The author states that fear creates the needfor source.  The Nation of Islam was fearful of the Whites  dominating overthe Blacks.  Fear always dominated the minds of black people.&nb sp This fearcaused  Elijah to strive for power to liberate the community.  The Nationof Islam wanted absolute control of the White society. Baldwin was disposedthe opportunity to become an influential figure in the Nation of Islammovement, he rejected Elijah Muhammeds awayer. He was totally against thebelief that the movement held.                Baldwin says, love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot livewithout and we know we cannot live within.  (95)  Whites cannot lovebecause they fear to be judged by those who are not white..  BecauseBlacks are stereotyped to be furious, whites have the private fearsto be projected onto the Negro.  (96)   Fear only promotes march on racism,and the labyrinth of attitudes.  He states that the problem with racialoppression will neer be resolved unless the white man gives up his power.           &nbs p    Baldwin states that mirrors can only lie, because they onlyreflect the surface of people instead of revealing the recondite truth.