The Fire Next Time

The Fire Next Time is a 1963 work of nonfiction by James Baldwin, composed of two essays addressed to the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation. The first is a letter to Baldwin's nephew about race, identity, and growing up Black in America. The second examines Baldwin's religious upbringing, the Nation of Islam, and the moral and political consequences of racism in the United States. Together, the essays argue that Americans must confront racial injustice to avoid destructive conflict.

by James Baldwin

Dell Publishing Co. · First published 1963 · 141 pages