This love strengthened James against an unloving world. James' parents chose to offer him love even though they felt fear at giving birth to an African American boy in an oppressive society. What reason does Baldwin offer his nephew for persevering through a difficult life ahead?īaldwin offers his nephew a personal appeal: he must survive and work to have a good life in the face of numerous challenges because of the sacrifices his parents and other relatives have made for him. Baldwin thus chooses to speak directly to James instead of attempting to address the American public, because he believes James will actually listen to him whereas others would not take his message to heart. To most white Americans, African American boys like James are 'invisible.' They do not acknowledge their own culpability in the struggles James faces, and thus overlook many important facets of the problems Baldwin is discussing. He later emphasizes that this letter is meant only for James because he does not believe that the American public is interested in the issues he is discussing, which primarily affect African Americans.

He also makes clear that he does not intend it to be a broader address to the white American public, even though he discusses many of the injustices that white Americans perpetuate. Why does Baldwin address this letter to his nephew, instead of the general public?īaldwin specifies that he is writing this letter for his nephew, James.

The fire next door james baldwin