“I am what time, circumstance, and history, have made of me, certainly, but I am also, much more than that. So are we all.”
- James Baldwin
James Baldwin has become one of my heroes. Out of the millions of people that have come before me to establish their ideologies to change or impact the world, few have ever really caught my ear. Out of those few, fewer still are black, and out of those, only one is gay. James Baldwin is that one. His sexuality, however, is but a footnote and doesn’t define the literary and journalistic giant that is Mr. Baldwin. As of this writing, I haven’t read a single word he has written, having only just been introduced, but I have seen countless interviews and debates that he has been involved in. I find myself to have become deeply, deeply enamored with his diction, his wit, his intellect, and his controlled passion for his fellow countrymen and further still, his fellow black man. He has become someone I admire. It is through his well-crafted lens that I have become more complete and comfortable in my skin as I continue to learn, grow, and understand who I am and also be able to further define my beliefs, my purpose, and the lineage which I have inherited.
It is very nearly impossible... to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.”
- James Baldwin
A lot of the lessons that I have learned were taught to me by watching the mistakes of others. For example, I have a strict ‘no hitting women’ policy ingrained in me after seeing what domestic abuse did to my mother and later my Aunt (may she Rest in Peace) which had affected me even while in the military - I couldn’t bring myself to spar with my sisters in arms. A lot of the lessons that I have learned were taught to me by watching the mistakes of others.
Of all the words I have heard him utter from his mouth, from his mind, it was this string of organized thought that resonated with who I am and what I’m meant to do. It has more to do with the word ‘witness’. This has been my way through life: as a voyeur. Very few lessons were learned from my own mistakes, and I used to think ill of this...that is until recently.
“Part of my responsibility as a WITNESS was to move
as largely and as freely as possible; to write the story
and to get it out.” - James Baldwin.
Being a spectator in life has always been met with a specific warning that has been worded differently throughout the ages, but the gist remains the same: ‘if you stand by and just watch life happen, then your life will pass you by.’While I agree with the wisdom of the intention of that statement, I have learned from watching the little bit of Mr. Baldwin I have had the pleasure of viewing - and I am sure that there is so much more I have yet to see - that the role of a witness is just as important as the role of a leader, a fighter, or anyone else who claim the spotlight inherently. I have learned that when the dust settles and the blood dries; after the bodies are laid to rest, there has to be someone left to tell the story.
Now innately, I would consider the previous notion akin to a form of cowardice: where a person fears getting involved due to the potential risk to oneself. While this may be true on some level, it is not the truth in its entirety. Resigning yourself to be just a witness to avoid being hurt, then yes; it is my opinion that that is cowardly, however, to watch and take note of events to spread knowledge and further commentary, that is a true witness. Watching life happen for the sake of watching is a passive existence. Life is change, change is an action and for change to occur, you must do something to add to it, transform it, and learn from it while simultaneously teaching from it. This is the realm I often find myself in and the one I hope I share with Mr. Baldwin. The realm of the witness.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
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