James Baldwin - I'm writting for people, baby (Meeting the man)

From Meeting The Man : James Baldwin in Paris. Directed by Terence Dixon United Kingdom, France, 1970.

[@joeodd2]

This man should be an entire semester or a year-long class in every high school, if not college in America. Imagine how many dangerous, passionate young minds he would inspire?

[@donnavorce8856]

Some brave teachers and professors might take it on. Lucky students if they do.

[@sequoia7522]

🧚🏽

[@nishalibra]

I actually did a paper on James Baldwin's book Giovanni's room in college around 2015-2016. I really enjoyed it. :)

[@nishalibra]

@@donnavorce8856 i was one of the lucky students :)

[@Godloveszaza]

Yup and i say even if you disagree with things he said he still should be taught and known. It's crazy how guys like this are just breezed through and forgotten while the industry generations later makes sure they make a quick penny off him. I dont think you can trust someone that doesn't own one of his books or AT LEAST know of. This guy is what this generation needs especially for the black community since their idols today are brain dead.

[@invisiblemanmusic]

Every time I watch a James Baldwin interview it seems like the person interviewing him is a child and he is instructing them on how to be an adult.

[@jessicasager72]

I'm 54 and he's still instructing me and somehow, speaking the words I wish I was as eloquent to speak myself. So, I quote him, and give him credit so more people become aware of the power and truth in his perspective of life.

[@franksmith16]

“The world is held together by the love and passion of a very few people.” The older I get, the more I find myself believing this I’m afraid

[@achilleshamilton2212]

in this interpretation whats important to realize is the quote “You could be that person. You could be that monster. You could be that cop. And you have to decide in yourself not to be.” in that same instance you have to make the active choice to be one of the people that hold the world together with their love and passion 🤔🙇🏽‍♂️

[@purushottammishra3423]

Baldwin's eyes speak!

[@charliemcpherson6299]

And that voice!

[@rachelj1201]

Yes! And I always think about how tired he seems. How exhausting it must have been to speak like this, to carry this knowledge and try to transmit it to others.

[@SewerTapes]

I could listen to James Baldwin talk all day. Just a deeply intelligent human being. More people should be listening too.

[@jeffhidalgo198]

He elevates us all.

[@praywithourfeet]

Indeed!!!💥🙌🏾💥 Prolific. Prophetic. Ever Relevant.

[@AmberShockley]

He speaks off the cuff the way playwrights, when trying to create lasting, profound art, write people speaking.

[@BebehCookieIcecream]

God bless James's soul, wherever it flows. People simply don't speak with this level of compassion or insight anymore and, if they do, it falls unceremoniously on deaf ears.

[@TheOmare63]

James Baldwin says more profound truths in a single interview than most people do throughout their whole lives.

[@cardion411]

His brilliance. His brilliance. His brilliance.

[@loveinthematrix]

❤

[@jackhaggerty1066]

James Baldwin was described by his first biographer James Campbell as *the most intelligent man I ever met* and *a born genius*. I would add that he was also the most gifted American writer of his time and a truer patriot than any of his detractors.

[@briiibrii8606]

I wish I knew about James Baldwin earlier he is such an inspiration to me and I usually don’t have any inspirational people

[@abesapien9930]

He's fantastic, I'm glad you like him too. I have a lot of other writers I look to for inspiration...John Steinbeck and British authors like George Orwell and C.S. Lewis are my biggest inspirations.

[@Zwarhol]

“This world is held together by very few loving people” never have I heard truer words than this

[@mr.purple7816]

He is the definition of brutally honest. When you have experienced a life similar to his you tend to be that way.

[@AmberShockley]

His dignity is breathtaking.

[@mikebasil4832]

Very powerful words: Everyone you’re looking at is also you. Thank you, James.

[@knutthompson7879]

He was so eloquent. His words are art.

[@polneko]

where would a fleeing black man go? he came to istanbul and he was so happy here im so glad he spent good days i love him so deeply

[@newhorizonsforfifty2833]

The part about "where would I go?" reminds me of Gil Scott Heron's poem "On Running."

[@kevinlawson8124]

He was and is my HERO!

[@georgepate6595]

The first time I heard of James Baldwin, I was 16 years old. I was in my high school literature class. We read the book , "Go tell it on the Mountain" It was an amazing story. We enjoyed the book .

[@morebirdsandroses]

At the same age I would see him on tv. Transfixed by his brilliance, his anger and his sincerity. Talking pure sense that, alas, has not been heeded. ❤

[@Poemsapennyeach]

An exceptional man. Hugs to you in Heaven J.B.

[@Peter-ew5bq]

How I mourn this scintillatingly brilliant and inspirationally courageous (and deeply ethical) man to this day. I began reading his novels and essays many years ago as an adolescent, and I met him briefly when he came to London to deliver a talk at the ICA, not too long before the world lost his living genius. I remain as inspired today by his example as I was as a youngster, perhaps moreso. Thank you for sharing this brief sequence of his moving, eloquent, compassionate fury.

[@Heroics64]

Finally the full video with no over dramatic piano or whatever blaring over it

[@randysalgado6157]

I’m reading If Beale Street Could Talk my very first time reading James Baldwin and his lyricism truly is beautiful

[@donnavorce8856]

I finished "The Fire Next Time" just yesterday. It was powerful and exposed my mind to things I didn't know.

[@abesapien9930]

He's one the best authors of the 20th century. Up there with John Steinbeck in my opinion.

[@jwilson544]

I would say baldwin is just as important as mlk and Malcolm x. With baldwin, hes so important because he survived. I wonder deeply about so many people who were gunned down in the 20th century, and sometimes i look to later baldwin, and i see how much we lost with those who didnt make it

[@julliantobias8754]

Did you really listen to what brother James had to say there is no way for a black man to escape we live every day knowing this could be our last day I love this man

[@valerieneal2747]

THAT MY DEAR..IS BECAUSE HE KNEW. HE GAVE NO EXCUSES; NO ILLUSION IN HIS LIFE NOR IN HIS WRITTEN COMMENTARY. HE KNEW WHAT MANY OF US KNOW. DIFFERENCE IS: HE NEVER, EVER DENIED IT. HE KNEW. AND I'M GLAD THAT HE DID. FOR IF IT WERE NOT FOR HIM AND THIOSE BEFORE HIM...I WOULD HAVENEVER RECEIVED THE EDUCATION JAMES BALDWIN GAVE ME.

[@shanazbenz9653]

The mean meaning of uniqueness and brilliance

[@praywithourfeet]

My fav. writer & intellectual! The brilliance! 💥💥💥💥

[@zoemcleod5998]

Oh my gosh. Thank you for posting this. I love him so much.

[@ahmedfiasco6412]

One of the greatest

[@fatoufrancescambow5876]

What a man! What a man 🧡!

[@valerieneal2747]

THE INTERVIEWER WAS A TAD TOO CONDESCENDING FOR ME. AND AS ALWAYS...JAMES BALDWIN IS BRILLIANT.

[@letstalktotorri]

#some people can't understand an experience or perspective that they have never felt under any circumstances

[@mariannell]

A real poet, thinker and fighter, who changed the world. I wish more men were like him. Such a serious figure...

[@vickigreen9545]

Every word said stands on it’s own

[@Thepeejay]

He is so brilliant

[@NunyaBiznessss]

The more I hear this man speak the more I am changed

[@willellis502]

Just a lovely mind, heart, and man. Just a brilliant, loving man.

[@marilynsue4273]

I read "The Fire Next Time" (1962) in 1970. Nice production, a pleasure to watch.

[@darthvader3910]

fuck, the man can control words. He is so bloody well spoken. God, there is a chasm in terms of a difference in how people today talk like. they've fucked up the English language.

[@donnavorce8856]

Agree. Our species seems to be moving backward right now. The effed up language is a casualty of lazy uneducated willfully ignorant people.

[@waliky2002]

Wow. Every word is gold.

[@ireneyoon5694]

Escape... freedom... love.... Baldwin touches on truth so deep, it's breathtaking.

[@malachijustice1397]

I love and miss this man

[@Poemsapennyeach]

Salute James Baldwin.

[@iammichaeldavis]

The patience this absolute boss had with this doofus interviewer would make Job jealous. What a King 👑

[@coyoterooves]

...after all the Baldwin youtube binges i've been on over the years, this clip was new to me. Thank you!

[@davidirving8669]

I am not sure this man was not the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. He sure sounds like Him. This man could peel the skin off of a lie just by looking at it. I love the way he matter-of-factly confronts every scintilla of an untruth without flinching. And he has such grace, poise, and joy, with great humor as well. Everyone, please read his books! He was all about LOVE!

[@christopherayettey4390]

He was gay

[@samersuleman4523]

@stabilobowski actively choosing to be the change and to be the person you want to see more of in this world. @2:50 Jimmy said that everyone we see is also us, and that we have to choose not to be people that cause harm and hatred. Love is a choice and an action-not just a feeling as we are often taught.

[@chucksmash1]

@@samersuleman4523 Extremely well said..!!! Thank you for saying it.

[@donnavorce8856]

I read my first book by James Baldwin just yesterday: The Fire Next Time Ordering more very soon. I feel sad that I wasn't aware of him while he walked this earth.

[@davidirving8669]

You cannot read just one of James Baldwin's books and not want to read the rest of his writings. And once you start reading them, you cannot stop. His words infect your soul, and leave light in it. Every single word of his effuses truth. I'm just glad that - even though I did not read him while he was alive, I live in a time when he walked the earth and I can read his work. Wisdom and love are the same thing.@@donnavorce8856

[@gbeepee9995]

He is my favorite.

[@justiinclark]

1:35 "TO WHAT HAVE I ESCAPED" lollll he's the best

[@BrunoSanJunipero]

J'aurais du mal à l'expliquer mais il y a, dans beaucoup de vidéos de cette chaîne, quelque chose qui me touche d'une façon assez unique.

[@Misserbi]

I agree writing is a process and sometimes diligence does not seem right. I would ask him, "If a black man in America comes to you and another walks by expecting you to always say hi, is this cordial, or do I have the right to ask questions?" Anyone that shows up uninvited is begging for the street to ignore something for someone if the street is the place he is avoiding by coming to me? I guess it is pomp and circumstance but how do say -- hmm, really?

[@jprophet1022]

Powerful truth 👏!

[@BWall-h4d]

Words and instructions of a prophet.

[@GreatArtExplained]

A video about Baldwin's Giovanni's Room - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYC5mmyajtN8jtE

thx

[@bezoozime9170]

The man commands respect & attention

[@KremIsis]

well said.

[@omefea8501]

Wow.

[@JaelRBakari]

What have I escaped? Where anyway would I go to escape? Jimmy had that heat 🔥

[@VENUS.SE7EN]

He inspires me so. ❤❤🌹🌹👑👑

[@UltimateAwe]

I love his sass in this ‘interview’. 🙌🏽

[@sgiauque]

this is beautiful

[@UltimateAwe]

‘In a literal sense’ is a CRAZY statement.

[@vernoncarter3052]

That’s deep👑

[@rebeccadolashewich7094]

#AmericanHistory101✨🦅🗽🇺🇸✨ “ The logic of despair isn’t for me.” “I’m aware, you know, that I and the people I love may perish in the morning. I know that. But there’s light in our faces now. If you live under the shadow of death, it gives you a certain freedom. I’m perfectly happy, odd as it sounds, you know & relatively free.” - James Baldwin

[@StephenGrew]

Love this man

[@carolwillmont7424]

I love his answers. He’s so intelligent. I believe that from the moment we’re born, the one thing that people want, more than love or money or anything, is freedom.

[@semaduqa5583]

He was a genius

[@JoelJimenezMerejo]

1:42 he ate that

[@elizawrites7035]

Where can I see this whole film? James Baldwin is my forever favorite.

On MUBI mubi.com/films/meeting-the-man-james-baldwin-in-paris (need a subscription) or can probably find the torrent somewhere ;-)

[@GiantSandles]

@ It's kind of not worth it other than the last part where Baldwin lets the guy interview him, the rest of the time they seem at odds about what the documentary should be focusing on so it's just the director arguing with Baldwin and some college student Baldwin has with him

[@quendera]

@@GiantSandles That's the whole point of the film... That tension is precisely why the film is worth watching.

[@NishkamTheGeneral]

“They may not read them BUT THEY STEAL THEM” 🤣🤣 all you need to know

[@rachelj1201]

☝Indeed, it's possible to miss the entire point this way. Some might hear one jab that reinforces what they think they "knew" and stop listening. It's easier than learning.

[@NishkamTheGeneral]

@@rachelj1201 or the more tragically common perspective that overlooks this point completely and worships the positive points, e.g every single other comment on here..

[@rachelj1201]

Look...I could argue all day with someone looking to confirm racist assumptions, but I don't want to. That simply wasn't the "point" of the interview. You missed ALL the points.

[@NishkamTheGeneral]

@@rachelj1201 I watched, I listened, I read the positive comments, yup, I get it. All those points are obvious and no one disputes them…I’m simply observing an overlooked emphasis by the speaker. My comment was off-hand in proportion to the lack of representation for that comment. No argument needed. I’m not criticizing you or your views simply because they differ from mine… the high horse and lack of humility is rather ironic to say the least 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@rodrickhudson6537]

True

[@j.d.whitfield7604]

Truth.

[@sikhobodoza5288]

George Simenon - Pensive Music

[@CookinCrack]

HARLEM LEGEND

[@kennjones3196]

🔥🔥🔥🔥❣️

[@severianthefool7233]

The interviewer’s “Are you aware of that?” is so condescending

[@aster5031]

10/10

[@c-core9219]

⭐ Ubomi really has no formula . You do what you feel is best for you. Ngamanye amaxesha , we trave to escape. Awudingi to know that many People , A few that will help you ngama xesha anzima are more than enough.

[@patrickhicks9880]

i read another country when i was 14 at the time i'd only met one black person this interviewer asked a lot of stupid questions

[@ContentRemoved___]

An interesting man for sure. Probably Aspergers. Like me…

[@monayfromdabay]

hahahahahahahah...theyre hot in bars

[@queerfish6984]

The filmmakers were so annoying in this one

[@inartwetrust1]

Ed sheeran growing up

[@davidiihouston6883]

Terrible interviewer but Baldwin was awesome

[@ContrarianExpatriate]

Not impressed with James B. He speaks in riddles that veer into word salad.

[@tico5058]

Name checks out

[@3rdScribe155]

the interviewer is shady as fuck! ..... and if he (James) wanted to escape, he could easily go back to a "black" country, which confuses me, why he didn't. still, one of the most brilliant men in history!

[@rachelj1201]

“Go back?” He’s American. And what makes you think it’s easy to emigrate to any other country?

[@3rdScribe155]

@@rachelj1201 -- - you are correct about him being American, he is a Hebrew native to America, as are all so-called black people .... as for immigrating to another country, as a world traveler, i know it's not that easy, but it isn't that hard, either -- with the proper finances, anything is possible. AND HE HAD THE MONEY!

[@winterbelle708]

@@3rdScribe155 just so many reasons you’re not correct

[@rachelj1201]

@@3rdScribe155 OK, um...as Mr. Baldwin tells it, he chose to stay in the United States, murder and racism notwithstanding, and explains his reasons in this video. It begins with his point of view regarding the invention of race, incidentally. We clearly all have opinions and strong feelings about lots of things, but he didn't want to leave the United States, and your choice of words is, frankly, racist and problematic--there wasn't anywhere for this native-born American to "easily go back" to.

[@bobbylee_]

The interviewers questions are so reflective of his privileged mindset.