James Baldwin, born in 1924 in Harlem, New York, experienced a sense of detachment from both his black culture and the white liberal society, despite being an influential figure in the civil rights movement. Throughout his upbringing, Baldwin resided in the household of his stepfather, David Baldwin(was the first generation of freed slaves in his family), who disapproved of his passion for theater. Despite his exposure to secular literature, which strained his connection with the church, Baldwin maintained his affiliation with different churches and even preached as a young man. It was during his employment at a defense plant in New Jersey that he encountered his first significant incident of racial discrimination. In 1943, following the passing of Baldwin’s father, he made the decision to not return home and take care of his mother and siblings. Instead, he chose to pursue his career and relocated to Greenwich Village in lower Manhattan, just before the outbreak of the second world war. Later, his career flourished when he later moved to Paris after the conclusion of the second world war. He connected with older writers and stated, “Writing was an act of love” and “an attempt to be loved.” Afterward, he encountered a writer’s block and was wrongfully arrested for theft. Despite his career flourishing, he struggled with multiple suicide attempts. In 1955, he wrote a compilation of essays titled “Notes of a Native Son,” which marked the beginning of his influential role in the civil rights movement.