Sample the Black History Walks 6-week course on Baldwin showing why he chose to spend time in '85 ungentrified Hackney & the story of his Blue Plaque.

Celebrating the unveiling of the blue plaque to James Baldwin in May 2024

Welcome to an evening of exploration and discussion as Black History Walks present extracts from their course on James Baldwin to show why this international, multi-millionaire celebrity would chose to hang out at a small library in a deprived inner-city borough of London.

The Amazing James Baldwin: An exciting, interactive multi-media online course referenced by the Baldwin 2018 film dramatisation 'If Beale Street could Talk'. This course also references the 2016 Oscar-nominated documentary 'I Am Not Your Negro'. This six-week course is an introduction to James Baldwin and a selection of his works. The course draws on a range of written and visual material to present an overview of his writings and contributions to the questions of race and identity, examining how they continue to impact us now.

We will use obscure video clips of James Baldwin (interviews, speeches, TV appearances) and some of his most widely received fiction and non-fiction writing, including Going to Meet the Man, Sonny’s Blues, Notes of a Native Son, and The Fire Next Time. Rare photos, paintings, and sketches that capture his spirit are also included.

The Baldwin 100 Festival celebrates the centenary of James Baldwin’s birth, and commemorates his visit to Hackney in 1985. Hackney Libraries are proud to be collaborating with Black History Walks, Hackney CVS, Jacaranda Books, Rio Cinema, Way Wive Wordz, Words of Colour and Young Lit Stars to bring you a fantastic programme from July to September 2024.