Introduction

Meshell Ndegeocello: “Let us hold him in our hearts and minds. Let us make him part of our invincible black souls, the intelligence of our transcendence. Let our black hearts grow big, world-absorbing eyes like his, never closed. Let us one day be able to celebrate him like he must be celebrated if we are ever to be truly self-determining. For Jimmy was God’s Black revolutionary mouth. If there is a God, and revolution his righteous natural expression.”

These words were spoken by Amiri Baraka at the funeral of writer and activist James Baldwin in 1987. Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, right here in Harlem and died at age 63 in France. He has remained a literary icon whose unique voice continues to resonate around the world.

Baldwin wrote in many forms: novels, drama, poetry, essays. Throughout his work was the same thread of radical thought, always pushing boundaries and speaking truth to power. He wrote about race, sexuality, religion, and politics—and challenged convention at every turn. From his early writings to his final interview, Baldwin’s life and work were marked by his incisive wisdom and profound artistry.

I’m Meshell Ndegeocello, and I’m proud to welcome you to Jimmy! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth at The New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. James Baldwin’s personal archive is held here, and many items from it are now on display for the very first time. They demonstrate his lifelong brilliance, which still lives on a century after he was born.