August 21, 2026
I’ll be using this page to record my thoughts periodically, as I work my way through the selections, and, eventually, listen to the podcasts. Feel free to comment below.
Here’s the link to the Audible podcast. Unfortunately, it’s not free. There’s a 30-day free trial that comes with 2 free titles, although you’ll need to cancel before it ends to avoid getting charged for the 2nd month. If you are really interested and committed, and have a real financial need, send me an email and I’ll help out.
August 29, 2026
I finished the first selection, James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. I cannot WAIT to hear that first episode, to hear what the Prez and his guest(s) have to say about this. (I was HORRIFIED to find out this book is on several lists of banned books. 😩)
For now, I’ll just note some things that stood out to me.
Baldwin seems to be embracing MLK,Jr.’s philosophy of non-violence, as opposed to The Nation of Islam/Malcolm X calls to action by whatever means necessary, violence if required. His reasoning is that anything that hurts others, hurts oneself.
The corollary is that White oppression of Blacks actually oppresses Whites too. Baldwin says, “…what they (Whites) believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority, but to their inhumanity and fear…We cannot be free until they are free.” Yikes. There is truth to this.
And finally, I figured out the meaning of the title. The Fire Next Time refers to eternal hellfire and damnation, from an African American spiritual, God gave Noah the rainbow sign / No more water, the fire next time. Which is completely Biblical, actually. “…by the Word of God…the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His Word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:5-7)
Baldwin appears to be saying that without repentance and societal change towards Black Americans, he will rely on “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the LORD.” (Romans 12:19) 😳
Kyrie Eleison. As I said, I’m really looking forward to what others say about this selection.
Leave a Reply