In 1948, struggling with America as America struggled with civil rights ? a young James Baldwin left Harlem for Paris. The aspiring black writer, also struggling with his own identity, met other writers there, and five years later began a literary career with “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Notes of a Native Son” in 1955, and, 50 years ago this year, “Giovanni?s Room.”
As part of its celebration of “Giovanni?s Room,” the Baltimore-based National James Baldwin Literary Society is hosting a French cabaret Monday at the Maryland Zoo.
Baldwin blended personal history with social commentary in essays, novels and plays addressing taboo themes such racism, interracial relationships and homosexuality.
“My favorite book is ?Giovanni?s Room,?” said former Baltimore Sun reporter and newspaper editor Kevin Brown, founder of the Baldwin society. “It?s just the quintessential novel for me. Baldwin could write from outside himself. He could put himself in another place and look back and reveal what was happening.”
Brown met Baldwin, who returned home often for events like the March on Washington, in the early ?80s when he had a small role in Baldwin?s play “The Amen Corner” at Center Stage. Brown met Baldwin again in 1985 at a Baltimore City Community College lecture.
“I was young, black and gay and wanted to write ? I had discovered my passion,” Brown said. “He came to one of the performances and a party the following night. I was awestruck that someone of his magnitude would spend time to share his gifts with regular people.
“When he died in 1987, I decided that day, I wanted to start something like a ?Dead Poets Society? in his name,” he said.
“He is amazingly relevant today,” said Chezia Thompson-Cager, poet-scholar in residence at Towson University?s African-American Cultural Center. “He crossed every genre, nonfiction, fiction, poetry. He was an acclaimed playwright and his books were made into films as well. He understood very well the power of a message wasn?t in the structure, but the imagery conveyed in a sentence.”
“We?re going to have French pastry, can-can girls, jazz, Josephine Baker look-alikes and staged readings from Baldwin and other authors, like Maya Angelou,” Brown said.
“It?s going to be a lot of fun, like a French cabaret, but without all the smoke.”
Admission is free and open to the public, however, tickets are required in advance. Call 410-625-6440 to reserve tickets or send an e-mail to [email protected].
