James Baldwin Speaks! The Confessions of Nat Turner: with William Styron and Ossie Davis

James Baldwin Speaks! The Confessions of Nat Turner: In Conversation with William Styron and Ossie Davis. A May 28, 1968 discussion on William Styron's book, The Confessions of Nat Turner, held between James Baldwin and his friends Ossie Davis and William Styron. A thrilling historical document.

[@zvigier]

Oh Mr. Davis you have voiced my sentiments about black on black love so eloquently.

[@nwadi6408]

The brilliance and eloquence of the late Ossie Davis. Unmatched.

[@sherrittahughesphdlpc]

Yes, indeed.

[@landajones5407]

It is an honor to have Mr. Ossie Davis speak on the life of Nathaniel Turner. The truth Nat Turner was a man of God, a minister/ preacher leader of faith a husband and a father.

[@jeffersonianideal]

Paradoxical, don't you think?

[@bertramdavis7120]

Mr. Ossie Davis words has struck a strong cord in me!!!

[@allenholliman5388]

Ossie Davis was amazing. He didn't falter or crumble under the obvious pressure of telling the author what he could really do with his book about Nat Turner.

[@cabinfourful]

Davis's first statement was strong, his second was amazing. His great strength was his forthright embrace of the contradiction of his argument. His "dialogue" between the white liberal intellectual and the black man he purports to understand and act for was funny and heartbreaking at the same time.

[@MercutioGoinsSr]

O. Davis can deliver a message like no other

[@franktalk5037]

This is why brother Ossie gave the eulogy at Malcolm's (brother Omowale) funeral. Brilliant speaker and master of the spoken word. I miss Ossie Davisand Ruby Dee so... Those who never saw Spike Lee's movie *"Get On The Bus"* need to check it out. I loved Ossie Davis' performance in that movie role.

[@itstonua311]

I miss seeing them too

[@cyndih8680]

Ossie Davis' speech was so eloquently spoken. Mr. Davis paved the way for the arts, civil rights and education. He was a brilliant man and a man of God. Let me add to Mr. Styron's commentary: " a jagged pill is hard to swallow".

[@matthewtrevino525]

Bills novel probably saved my life. I was reading this during my watch out to sea. Some unfortunate events moved me to consider taking a heavy shackle and throwing myself into the wash. I considered the Nat and decided not to do it. Thank the arts for saving lives.

[@wadewheelingtonii7690]

Please forgive me for so short of an reply,Thank You. From the midst of my heart I truly appreciate bring this forth.

[@GMochileiro_42_]

Wow Ossie Davis 👏🏾

[@kaydenevideo]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@matthewtrevino525]

Everyone should read the book. Nat is was a living prophet. His legacy as such he was martyred for his power. A motion picture won't focalize William Styron's exploration of the human Soul where no real Providence is in sight except for the actual Confessional experience of Nat at the end. I love this book and it being politicized is it being weaponized and stripped of it some deep truth. One truth is a weaponizing of literature which is to often done and it mentioned by Ossie.

[@jamesjeffreypaul]

Fascinating and so important. Thanks for sharing.

[@sherrittahughesphdlpc]

Very educational! Now go listen to Dr. Henrik Clarke in the same topic. He also has a book you can find in the library. So amazing to read these perspectives on history

[@boxingfirstvlog]

nat turner is 1 of the greatest black man ever born n this country 1 luv bro proud to no your story !!!!!

[@sweetwaterfarmhouse1074]

Thank you so much!!!

[@judahblack4327]

Ossie Davis knew the truth a long time ago.

[@ArchieThomas3seesea]

Dr King said one can't ride one's back unless one's back is bent (paraphrase).

[@AxmedBahjad]

I see what you mean though that phrase was first uttered by Gandhi.

[@ArchieThomas3seesea]

AG, click my name to get my book review of MLK's Letter From the Birmingham Jail. Thanks for the info though. Didn't King get accused of plagiarizing in college too. I think another of his quotes came from Edmund Burke.

[@suzgleason]

Tragic

[@jackiesmith3484]

Just saw the movie tonight it was amazing💪🏾✊🏽✊🏽

[@donaldodmorizi5970]

yes it was

[@carlosharris78]

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF NAT TURNER THAT WE'RE ALIVE TODAY, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF THE INACTION OF OTHER BLACKS AROUND HIM THAT WE'RE IN DANGER TODAY AS WELL!

[@crimsonjack8617]

We claim our right to make mistakes, like everyone else, and not to be vilified for it. You can't hold me back and then say that I'm behind.

[@franktalk5037]

I cannot wait for Nate Parker's movie where he plays Nat Turner. I love the irony of the movie's title: _"Birth Of A Nation"_, made one hundred years after the original movie with that title.

[@bertramdavis7120]

On a personal basis. I have never understood the attraction to white women, but I will never go against anyone else's attraction. So to each his or her own but the world has never been kind to my people.

[@YOUNGGIZZLE2443]

He was a Israelite a real living Prophet

[@kevinwhite1772]

I agree with your comment about Prophet. Like Jeremiah in the Old Testament. His first call is to proclaim the truth.

[@markchristian9350]

You should re-title this magnificent debate and call it "Ossie Davis Speaks! and Bill Styron attempts to Listen"... to think this is almost 55 years past is astounding. Having read Styron's Nat, and the Nat Turner Confessions (which was edited by a contemporary white man)... I have to agree 100% with the great and late Ossie Davis. We need to, in paraphrasing him, learn to Sing our Own Songs.

[@dolphinm3639]

Many excellent points brought out in this discussion. I can appreciate the two sides. I especially like the point that the Master's viewpoint is very different from the slave's view point. It is important to see both sides to get closer to the truth. Thank you for posting this interesting discussion.

[@aj57794]

Ossie is spectacular in this. Bill didn’t know what to do at all

[@1LadyChat1]

Wow!

[@jeffersonianideal]

50:36 How can something be admittedly "irrational" and "perfectly logical" and the same time?

[@BaldwinFanonGarveyTureShakurX]

Are you an Anglo male? That would explain why you don't understand the point.

[@ReginaldMitchellJrRicky]

👑👽

[@batgirlp5561]

Nujabes in the background??

[@muley101]

I am going reserve my comment of this historical slaved black men and more should follow suit. Please help me Lord your wisdom is my essence.

[@matthewtrevino525]

Ossie's political stance is of a politician. One indoctrinated by the world view that outrage and violence is not a proper path to discourse or test of the courts.

[@boxingfirstvlog]

we no holly weird not going to the reel truth