James Baldwin and R.H. Darden in conversation

[@PrettyCoG]

Mr. James Baldwin=Foot On Neck🔥 No one can EVER discount or diminish the brilliance, courage and integrity of Mr. James Baldwin! Love him!!❤

[@Kobe29261]

It takes great patience to have a mind like Baldwins and endure this level of reasoning and argumentation. God help us all!

[@TheHUPofHWC]

it's just a convo dude. talking shouldn't be that difficult.

[@EndeavorLSMedia]

@@TheHUPofHWC "shouldn't" and "isn't" are further apart these days

[@MoorBlood]

@@TheHUPofHWC you must live on an island to yourself.

[@manwithmusic9067]

James Baldwin is so far ahead of this man

[@Mocha69A]

That man is a devil.

[@joanpascal7745]

No doubt! I love what he says heis.

[@joanpascal7745]

he's. B. IS a very bright star in the sky's infinity ♾

[@lakid9749]

Of every man!! What shocks me is when you listen to him, read his books and plays his eloquence at showing tbe issues is so profound, its impossible to not understand. Only the ignorant or a stooge would not get it !! Ridiculous.

[@iamwhole8910]

I hope Darden reflected on this interview, and UNDERSTOOD the differences between him and Baldwin was not about race. The differences were only alive in Dardens mind. Baldwin’s level of critical thinking, wisdom and consciousness was so advanced that Darden could not make the jump. Baldwin schooled him in ways that Darden has not being privy too being a white man of that time. Black people in America understand things on a deeper level because they are not disillusioned by the ‘American’ dream even when they become a Baldwin or a Micheal Jordan. The path to that success has a different flavour and meaning for black people in America then and present day.

[@craigOneB]

Darden couldn’t keep up, first time hearing this interview

[@jamilahperry7352]

Balwin was trying to let Darden know that until all of my people are free than none of are and we don't think like the White American you can't make us feel better than our brothers, fathers, mothers and daughters because one of us was able to grow beyond the rest. Our people value love over envy, peace over drama, and morals over low quality standards. This is what makes us different but they want to glorify our success and turn us into some idol worshipping celebrity where our brothers, uncles, neices and nephews idolize and worship knowing good n well this is not freedom, justice or equality this just breeds envy and self esteem issues.

[@hermitlifeinthemountainsub9493]

Darden is so dumb he never got the point.

[@hermitlifeinthemountainsub9493]

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

[@nlrmoldw1712]

Ooooohh! The profundity of simplicity! I think it’s called being honest with one’s self and with others ..you see better by its light. Baldwin was a complete genius!

[@hermitlifeinthemountainsub9493]

@@nlrmoldw1712 OMG and how he would read a person if he was set off!!!

[@alfredphillips08]

What a brilliant mind James Baldwin was.

[@naneeleo823]

IS ! " Time is always NOW " J.Baldwin

[@Ant1498]

He was a MAN

[@elijahwilliams2422]

If you are learning still he is a brilliant mind 💪🏿

[@mujahidabdulbari8521]

@@Ant1498 Is a Man when you recognize that Man means Mind!

[@Priest84]

It's not "my people" or "your people" its "our people". Darden could in no way conceive that line of thought. THIS is the problem we all face as a society, as humanity.

[@rhorizon]

"The war on poverty was a dirty joke." Truer words never spoken.

[@roc7880]

it was a war on poor people not poverty

[@alvinfrazier4152]

roc Brilliant mind!

[@irvparchman1078]

What a patronizing prick Darden is in this interview. He tried several times to use the "you're one of the good ones" argument. Baldwin, being the brilliant man he is, didn't fall for it once.

[@RamMasterRay]

I got that impression a few times too. But a rant without opposing ideas wouldn't have this gravitas. For example "why do you single out this country Mr. Baldwin?" Because it's mine!" @ 12:14 absolute gold.

[@DaveNagrom]

He is desperately trying to divert from the issue: the system that perpetuates racism and white supremacy, for profit, and the hypocrisy of a nation that proclaims to be champions of liberty. Darden’s introductory statement, is an accusation, that Baldwin is an agitator for the discontent of blacks, by saying, to paraphrase, that a man who primes the bomb, has a very good idea of knowing when it will go off!

[@bue3916]

That has been and continue to be the go to line.

[@moteague]

To think that James Baldwin did not go to college. Self taught and gifted.

[@TheCapedWanderer]

Morrison Teague he learned from his environment and from books, like Sam Cooke, he had an eye for the truth and a thirst for understanding. The ironic and prophetic thing is that now, a young boy-the James of today-could educate himself by reading what James wrote. Some of the best writing I’ve ever come across. Taught me so much in the last few months.

[@MrzGodivaCouture]

Over 30 years later. We are still having the same conversation and it’s still going around in circles because some pple don’t want to acknowledge the truth.

[@StrawmnMcPerson]

They don't want the kids learning about this stuff early, because then they'd be starting off where Baldwin left them instead of starting off heavily indoctrinated and kept so ignorant they're afraid to wash their own 4sses. Lord knows how much further along we'd be in the fight for freedom if we'd all been exposed to thinkers like James Baldwin as kids.

[@cheri238]

Fierce, James Baldwin was with no pretense. What a writer!!!! A speaker with a moral conscientious. Bravo 👏 Look at us now in 2023.

[@fatoufrancescambow5876]

This is the perfect example of a conversation with someone uninterested in the matter at heart (pain) and concerned with one ´ s ego (« not everybody is like that, let’s look at the bright side of things »). These conversations are literally a killer. Thank you James Baldwin for trying so hard. Thank you

[@TheVuduYuDu]

Thank you for vocalizing this. The fact that people are still uninterested in the matter at heart d'mn near 60 years after this conversation is telling.

[@cheri238]

​@@TheVuduYuDu 💯 correct

[@mrluvit8232]

big fax 📠

[@cheri238]

@@mrluvit8232 ❤️

[@prcty]

"Im accusing you of your History!" Classic Baldwin..

[@johncapio9085]

HISTORY HIS-STORY

[@TheHUPofHWC]

since when did everything someone with your skin color did become your history? sounds pretty racist.

[@shutchins2549]

@@TheHUPofHWC not at all.... it's not about "feeling or even being descendants of those who are guilty"... I believe it's about those that are part of a people that literally creates races as to where one think its greater than another, hate, violence to get what they want and intimidation to keep control and grow all while causing another people to feel less than and like they have no RIGHT to half the things as the other BECAUSE OF COLOR. Colored folks still go through things that they spoke of years, decades ago.... oppression so deep that its systemic and anyone not effected doesnt want to acknowledge it, research it or assist in changing it..... IF one does not agree with what they see still today. What blacks were said to be from their history is always what is used against us. It's why things still dont play out right. Unless you think it only applies to select few.

[@warriorwaitress7690]

@@TheHUPofHWC It's not a personal statement directed at Darden specifically, far from it. Baldwin quite often employed the terms "you" and "I" as substitutes for "White America" and "Black America". It's actually an effective literary tool which causes the reader to empathize on a deeper level when the writer refers to an individual than they would with a broader mass of people.

[@supernova-u1x]

James Baldwin is so great

[@rikitawimberly775]

Darden: "You did accuse the Christian Church in this country of being one of the root causes of the race problem." Baldwin: "I accused it of not being Christian" Ding! Ding! Ding! 🎯

[@jamesedwards829]

Drops the 🎤

[@firouz256]

Same thing applies to Islam too! Almost alll religions as a matter of fact! Organized religion is anti spiritual, anti human and anti humanity. It is a business!

[@russelltaylor561]

In this interview you can actually hear the effects of centuries of racist ideology on those who have upheld it. This man can not grasp the legacy of slavery and discrimination and what it has blinded him to------his own white privilege!

[@anthonysmith9972]

So true so true 💯

[@johndoe-bq4xh]

I fucking LOVE...and I mean LOVE ...James Baldwin.

[@neb3757]

This interview is the most direct and clear I've heard James Baldwin speak.

[@feliciacoby5321]

I still read Mr James Baldwin's books he spoke nothing but the truth I love him very Smart Total genius

[@youlondamason2316]

James Baldwin is brilliant!

[@marygarvin1715]

James Baldwin, moped the floor with Darden!!

[@fikilemadi8641]

DARDEN: "Suppose the pollers are black!" BALDWIN: "Well, you can't tell a negro by the colour of his skin!" That is power!!!!!!!!

[@LinaTinaTTS]

Wow. I love this. Especially love how Baldwin refused to allow himself to be defined. Very educational and unfortunately nothing has changed. Still relevant.

[@rahmanmadison4967]

I love how Baldwin simply cuts off the interviewers foolishness at every turn✔💯

[@tbirdguy1]

"I know what you are trying to do... and I won't let you." Baldwin's wit and intelligence was more then Darden could fathom. He knew exactly the reasoning and, hell most people of color do... it's just that he had the ability to call it out right away.

[@joh8912]

Yes, Foolishness is all we have now from everyone that is talking.

[@tbirdguy1]

@@joh8912 Seems like some people have done very little listening, and don't want to hear what others are saying. They would prefer to keep doing what they have always done to voices they don't wish to entertain. But of course a person with you superior intelligence can elaborate and explain what you mean...right?

[@lemostjoyousrenegade]

Me too! It's delightful.

[@sarahgabriella84]

@@lemostjoyousrenegade The gaslighting James Baldwin received in this "interview" reminds me of how Munroe Bergdorf has been gaslit in so many of the interviews she was part of.

[@TheCapedWanderer]

“You’re asking me to substitute, for the truth in my life, the myth of the American success. And I’m telling you, that I will die before I’ll do that.”

[@corneliusaz6995]

Wow! James Baldwin was such an intelligent man.

[@occupykentucky4843]

Thank you for posting this

[@rahmanmadison4967]

Baldwin:There Are No Exceptions✔💯

[@deniseinacio6503]

So powerful! It is so sad that still so many argue instead of listen, hear and grow.

[@rahmanmadison4967]

@@deniseinacio6503 ikr..just arrogant asf...but King Baldwin understands them better then they know themselves, I salute him💯

[@malachileaderprtherb1gods150]

It's amazing how brother baldwin held his ground

[@brettshepherd5240]

They couldn't handle Baldwin

[@nino2u]

Darden didn't refute anything Baldwin said (as he pointed out in the beginning of this broadcast), because he couldn't. Baldwin's words and voice have to much authority, strength, and truth. Even if Darden had wanted to dispute Baldwin, he couldn't

[@kerrydehorney2949]

💖

[@theraceanalystphdprovingha4119]

He refuted Baldwin in tone and mere existence.

[@PrettyCoG]

@@theraceanalystphdprovingha4119 😂 You wish.

[@kwikky22]

James Baldwin is everything.

[@thekingmaker558]

Mr. Baldwin must've been in a very fierce mood during this interview.

[@lydiaboyd7629]

I just think he was exhausted talking to an idiot!!

[@found_theplace]

I’m listening and thinking the same thing lol

[@brendanparedes6646]

He's the best

[@lydialuhigo]

It is sad to hear the oppressor being oppressed intellectually. It is also a joy.

[@mochapella]

He is not being oppressed. He is being morally, historically, and intellectually challenged.

[@lydialuhigo]

@@mochapella that too

[@Chrisped.to.perfection]

James' attention to detail and ability to paint the most vivid picture of the struggle of his time makes it all more relavent today

[@russelltaylor561]

James Baldwin may as well have been talking to a brick wall!

[@CrimeEnjoyer]

Baldwin was on a whole nother level. Darden is like a child debating an adult. No wonder I haven't heard of him.

[@jrshield7793]

Darden played a good straight man allowing Baldwin to give his wisdom. I'll give him that

[@butywbrainz]

Baldwin was ahead of the time.

[@moteague]

James Baldwin was brilliant. He was a prophet.

[@sarahgabriella84]

I dont think he would refer himself as such. I agree with your assertion that he is brilliant. His mind is so vast, yet he speaks with an eloquence that makes it very easy to understand him. He writes in that way too. The interview was a regular gaslighting racist, he claimed he read The Fire Next Time, yet he clearly did not understand a word, if he even truly read it. James Baldwin, having left the christian church and having never join islam, being homosexual and black has all odds stacked against him and few allies. Yet he is the one we should be listening to, especially today because his words are still true. He was a man who wanted unity, not division or segregation. Shame we cannot hear him speak today, what he would have said about the US having a black president.

[@stacysamms1216]

im surprised that Mr Baldwin did not get up and walk out of this conversation. the man is not listening or understanding what Mr Baldwin was saying..

[@morenitascorp9246]

@Stacy Samms Mr. Baldwin was able to hang with the best of em, as should we all

[@valerieserval4731]

40:54 why did I go to Paris? To get away from here (…) To live. To find where I could write, not to be told by others who I was what I could do. (...) Malcom X couldn’t be a lawyer. (...) 41:20 That’s what the French do to the Algerians too. (...) 41:31 I beg your pardon. I was there during the French Algerian war and one of the great crisis was the idea of having a muslim in the government and the government of a catholic country. I made myself clear? (...) I'm talking about the black population of France. (...) 43:14 (The Christian church) taught us how to despise ourselves 'cause God is white (…) Think of the mortification of the flesh. (…) I am the flesh in America that has to be mortified. (…) I know it and you don’t. 44:08 I am your guilty conscience (...) that’s why I have to come in by the back door (…) You know what you did to me. You’re afraid that I might do that to you. (…) 45:39 I am not a stranger.(...) 46:49 I'm accusing you of your history. 47:16 But you’re not worried about MY extermination. You are worried about Yours.

[@tbirdguy1]

Dropping bombs on Darden, and all he could do was sea-lion and no true scottsman him in response. Baldwin was an incredibly intelligent man, and Darden could not comprehend him.

[@gstar8425]

Multiple mic drops Lol

[@davicool9958]

This IS the reason James Baldwin was NOT allowed to speak at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

[@davicool9958]

EXACTLY!

[@suzgleason]

I didn't know that

[@warriorwaitress7690]

I think it had far more to do with Mr. Baldwin being gay than with any opinions he ever held or stated publicly. The same goes for Bayard Rustin, who can rightfully take the lion's share of credit for the success of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (due to his legendary organizing skills). Yet, despite their enormous contributions to the civil rights movement, MLK eventually distanced himself from them both, which sadly was the correct political strategy of the times even if it was morally incorrect by our present-day standards.

[@charlesparks7296]

James Baldwin has no obligation to tell anyone anything!

[@rosamariamendoza1466]

Imagine if this would have been a debate! Love Mr James Balwin❤

[@blessingbikinya3373]

pure wisdom my brother J Baldwin

[@c.j.griffin]

I aspire towards the patience of Jimmy Baldwin - Christ, what a condescending, aloof interviewer Darden was.

[@davicool9958]

IF ALOOF MEANS "ASSHOLE" YOU ARE CORRECT

[@roseneal2392]

What a great country we forcibly reside in to be reminded to stay in our lane💐

[@budarydachas]

How arrogant of Darden. Insisting that it's Baldwins responsibility to offer up solutions to racism.... As if it's black peoples problem to fix and not an issue of whites in America that needs solving. And to insist it's upon him to need to fix it if he intends to keep writing about the problem. It's as if to come into a conversation and ask for a diagnosis of a social problem and then proceed to demand to know what to do about it and why havent you don't anything about it yet, and why do you insist about discussing it if you aren't gonna solve my problem. I found that particularly crigworthy

[@pietzsche]

"God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water, fire next time"

[@yudeen979]

"You must be joking." - James Baldwin

[@quietstorm6710]

This was 1968. It is 2020....not much have changed.

[@eldadmuwonge3383]

Unfortunately so true in 2020

[@LucaMorningstar]

What's interesting to me is that a lot of what the interviewer is saying here are the same conservative talking points repeated today.

[@moxamet]

This man should be read attentively

[@beauallen272]

Energy definitely changed from broadcast to interview...😂

[@karenjohannessen8987]

Yes - at about 4:00! and then to 'attempted argument' on the part of Darden.

[@sistahpb]

This was hard to listen to. Baldwin held his ground, my Hero. Like many oppressors, they want to point toward one individual, hold them up, and say, "Look how well you are doing, and we, the rest of the black community, should be satisfied. And then, he wanted to hold Balwin responsible for the condition of society at that time, saying he was concerned. He wanted Baldwin to make it better somehow. But he did not want to hear that all he (he being the oppressor) needed to do was STOP oppressing us. Here we are, 2023, and we are still being oppressed.

[@hip-hopweekly4926]

amazing interview

[@davicool9958]

I like it when jimmy Baldwin gets angry at the complete and utter obsequious nature of the questionnaire. He RIPS him a new asshole. Jimmy Baldwin is my hero. I love him.

[@PrettyCoG]

*James*

[@davicool9958]

@alisa- all his friends including Malcolm X called him Jimmy

[@delaciwoods8864]

This should have 24 million views not housewife or these other dumb reality shows

[@NaturallyIntrigued]

"You are proving my point."- James Baldwin.

[@gregpovy]

This Darden fellow is completely out of his league and doesn't have a clue how to match Baldwin.

[@lydiaboyd7629]

Darden really should have vetted his guest. If he had he would have understood that he had an unmatched, superior intelligent individual, no game!

[@tyronebunyon7254]

I love the cheekiness of Baldwin. He's just toying with Darden after a certain point and running intellectual circles around him.

[@37Dionysos]

THANKS---

[@drandrewm]

Psalms 137...“They that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth..."

[@feliciacoby5321]

Use the system to beat the system

[@ruiaaperahama380]

I like that Darden asks the very hard uncomfortable and difficult questions from a White American (democratic BS) perspective. I also love how Baldwin answers those 'loaded' questions. What a wonderful interview and debate.

[@agnesrodriguez8725]

Baldwin is ripping him a new one

[@AnGelChArmB]

people always try to ignore/deny systematic racism by pointing out, "well you were able to succeed"

[@dwill3233]

This is what you call verbal assault thank you Mr Baldwin🤣🤣🤣🤣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@LaLasta]

rh darden's brain is like a wooden board

[@christenasmalls6118]

Darden was more concern with violence from blacks than the patience of blacks over 300+ years. He is complete obtuse quoting what he does not understand.

[@alvinfrazier4152]

Darden was totally tone deaf!

[@scottcamp9266]

The more things change😔

[@cabreal]

what about Australia, well starting with the stolen generation and other atrocities against aborigines by European settlers

[@CarlosMartinez-pc7je]

James is throwing his pearls to swine towards the end because that cat will never see it. You can hear it in James that he is waisting his breath & the cat won’t let up with bs because he knows the real truth but can’t handle the guilt. Its gross 🤢

[@geraldrushton8859]

Tremendous intellect

[@mountainlinx]

Darden is the typical white nightmare we wake up to every single because he refuses to listen!

[@blackbean4509]

James Baldwin let him have it who wants to stay in the ghetto????

[@rougemoonchild9429]

the truth

[@ShadowAssassin7]

From @15:00 to 15:07, what does James say?

[@yudeen979]

"....the principals on which it defends itself, doom it."

[@dr.camaled.7085]

I stumbled on this interview. I listened to every word with an open mind and without bias. I can hear Mr. Baldwin’s pain, anger and contempt in his answers. Only black people living during that time and who experienced the hatred and racism Mr. Baldwin did can understand his anger. Mr. Baldwin was well educated and extremely intelligent, yet he was still being treated by the majority in the white community as being a second class citizen. This interview is disheartening and painful for me to listen to. Nevertheless, it has the truth of the REAL America all over it! This interview is enlightening.

[@calinasantos5290]

“There are NO EXCEPTIONS” “The ghetto you created” “Look I’m a writer, I don’t use you language the way you do.” “You try living in the ghetto for 6 months, 2 months, one week, and see how much it costs you.” “What makes you think that any negro in this country going to tell a white man the truth.” “Because it’s mine.” “I know what happed here.” “I see form of racism, and a form of slavery, and a form of exploitation of human beings which had never occurred in the world before. And that is the bill we are paying.”

[@teresaamanfu7408]

The church has so much unjust power that Baldwin was scared to speak his mind.

[@nathancarolus9193]

It's still like this today in most parts of the world...🤦🏽‍♂️ 🤦🏽‍♂️ 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@cuznlife]

I hear you family

[@Ja-wx4dc]

Lordt if this aint history repeating itself

[@jamaicaway1194]

This man is very smart

[@elijahjackson505]

36:16 That laugh though.

[@tarynmarie9066]

60 years later and this conversation is still applicable. Baldwin must be turning over in his grave.

[@maxjulien8394]

A White Man asking a Black Man for solutions of Racism,,lol,,smh,, like a Spider asking a Fly a way out of its web..smh

[@MikeMaroneyWhatsupdirtycones]

At 58:00 when he’s describing how let down he is to have to vote for Johnson, I feel he could substitute any and every politician choice we have today...

[@shutchins2549]

I see... so as long as there are a few of us that seem successful to them and we arent dead and are able to keep living...we are good. This is not the thought of any human being with a soul or care for HUMANITY that was given to them by anything/anyone with good conscious or heart. No wonder we stopped saying the pledge. #jusmytwocents

[@Proclaimfame]

36:50 did they say against whom? then that laugh!!

[@kennethbolar4741]

James Baldwin was definitely for the everyday people.

[@TheCapedWanderer]

I thought this was going to be painful, but this is just hilarious. Darden can’t ask a proper question, and can’t receive a single brilliant answer from Baldwin.

[@MiloMusx]

23:25

[@joh8912]

we need a James Baldwin Now where is some one that is willing to talk for US BLACK PEOPLE / ALL people ?????????????????

[@derfla5]

Imagine Fred Hampton being given this kind of platform.

[@maxafricanus6489]

Darden's ignorance is appalling