When James Baldwin wrote his first novels in the 1950’s and 1960’s, if you wanted to hear him read his words at any time in those days before digital audiobooks, you found him on vinyl.
"People can’t - unhappily - invent their mooring post, their lovers or their friend - anymore than they can invent their parents," read Baldwin on one record. "Life gives these - and also takes them away - and great difficulty is to say yes to life.”
Buy a record of highlights from his novel “Giovanni’s Room,” play it on your turntable - and listen to his voice weave the story he wrote for you.
Here in Chattanooga, the James Baldwin Festival of Words - this Friday through Sunday - celebrates the African-American author and activist, and it offers opportunities for today’s local Black writers to showcase their works and learn from fellow writers.
These opportunities fill the second day of the festival on Saturday - all events at the downtown Chattanooga Public Library.
Marsha Mills of the Rhyme N’ Chatt Interactive Poetry Organization is the director of the Baldwin Festival, produced by the Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas.
I spoke with her - and Carlos Davis, also of Rhyme N’ Chatt - as part of our series of festival conversations this week here on “Scenic Roots.”
