“Let’s begin by saying that we are living through a very dangerous time.” So opens “A Talk to Teachers,” which James Baldwin delivered to a group of educators in October, 1963.
“Let’s begin by saying that we are living through a very dangerous time.” So opens “A Talk to Teachers,” which James Baldwin delivered to a group of educators in October, 1963.
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I love James Baldwin, but honestly, "we are living through dangerous times" is such a tired ass line. When has there ever been a time when it wasn't "dangerous times"? This is just cynical pessimism. Consider this opening line: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" 1859
That said, I do believe we are in unprecedented dangerous times
yeah, those dangerous times for those UK Industrial Owners. Threatening to toss their factories into the sea.
Listento that lyrics and enjoy if you like metal music.amazon.de/albums/B001S...
It was…
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America was never great, but it was hella better after civil rights were won. Now we're slipping back into that racial hate mongering country again. If people don't learn hard lessons from history, they're doomed to repeat it. Honestly, we aren't going to allow our people to be treated this way.
Actually, they are badly treated now and there is not much to do against abuses when you live in a totalitarian state. Except getting rid of the dictator.
I agree. I'm Hispanic, I know what it's like to be discrimated against. Not only for being Hispanic, but for being a woman. WE are badly treated now, but it was a little better when we won civil rights. Now it's back to pre-civil rights, where whites think they're superior to people of color.
62 years later 👀
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78 now but I was a 17 year old English girl when I read one of his books. Not much on our 3 channel tv's at the time. From then on I searched for any of his books.
Life on Earth is dangerous and always ends in death.
You're right, "dangerous times" is a bit of a cliché, but I think Baldwin's point was that we often forget that danger can be a catalyst for change, like the revolution that Bitcoin's been trying to spark in the financial world.
One of my all-time heroes!
I miss The New Yorker stories, it's either too early for words or I should go back to bed, & makes me think of Rachael Maddow. She brings the news to you & makes you think. Making sure she wasn't lying would send me on research trips that would tire me out; RM a Great one. 🌃🦅🗺️🫖🌺🐝🎼🐉❤️🔥✡️🌟🦁✝️☪️🐦🔥🎭🧬⚖️🩵🌊🗽🪃🧲
God, he was so precious and prescient.
We feel that.
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But then remember Gerald Ford: "our long national nightmare is over." Okay still a ways off unless orange hair does something dramatically evil - - not that he hasn't already - - and we can get him out of office.
Wow, Baldwin’s talk to teachers needs to be adopted by all schools in our country. Our current administration wants to erase all historical data of slavery.
Fascinating, thanks for putting this out there . It's sad how many things I was never exposed to. www.elegantbrain.com/edu4/classes...
I am very pleased that James Baldwin is getting the credit he deserves from a new generation.
I’ve only recently started reading Baldwin’s writings. Never too late to learn! (It helps that I recently got a library card to the nearest university)
As you say, never too late. The great thing about books is there's always new discoveries.
This speech could have been given at ANY time during the reign of the Troglodytes on these shores
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man i wish he were here now. altho, tbh i’d worry about his safety.
This main is VERY worth listening too. You can find many of his talks, interviews and debates on YouTube.
I’d love to read this, but…
Paywall?
Yep.
“The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions… But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around.” 💯
Baldwin & Buckley debates were educational. We need more televised debates like these.
riskymove62.blogspot.com?m=0
James got Buckley to admit that Conservatives think that the Enlightenment was a huge mistake and that Christian authoritarianism is the way to go. Voting should be for the few and not the many basically Project 2025.
Damn, and he had Kennedy…
TRUMP FIRING MANY BROADCASTERS OF "THE VOICE OF AMERICA" that sends the news of America worldwide.
And we all know what happened a month later.
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This was around the time 90% of the Republican party voted FOR civil rights, compared to only 60% of the democrat party. I don't want to hear a single leftist tell us about the size of each party. 90% is always better than a dispicable 60%. Democrats use black Americans for political reasons, ONLY!
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It's even more timely and relevant now...
Relevant now. Teachers are being put through hell.
Nice
Education is about learning. If we do not learn from our past mistakes (our history), then we are doomed to repeat them! George Santayana was famous for this saying. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
We have been here before but grew out of it for a while.
I thought your critic Menard (or whatever) said Baldwin only wrote about one thing: love. Guess he was wrong. I'm still steamed about that piece of crap essay. Truly the most dismissive, ill-informed and arrogant thing I've ever read in your magazine. Which is saying a lot.
A must read American author, social critic.
Wanna grab a coffee?
None of this stops until he’s gone. Find a protest and every day call your reps & GOP leaders. None of this stops until he’s gone. Your reps and GOP leaders can be reached 202-224-3121 Tell them to remove Trump by impeachment/treason charges Need help use 5calls.org Also, Runforsomething.net
Teachers, you *must* “go for broke.”
Paywall bummer.
Try this site. Copy and paste the URL into the search bar. archive.org
“It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” — James Baldwin
So not much has changed since then sadly
a truly great and wonderful man..
Yeah, I'm not risking my job when half the country voted for Nazis.
Can't say I blame you. It might be different if fighting back made a difference, but these days teachers are combating forces that simply make it impossible to do what --ideally -- they're supposed to do.
QtipsANON. “Let’s begin by saying that we are living through a very dangerous time.” James Baldwin 1963. 2025 Plus?
Thank you for reminding us what a brilliant man he was.
These are bad times right now.