The time to take a step forward is now, and James Baldwin’s, “The Fire Next Time- My Dungeon Shook,” recognizes this truth. During its publication in 1962, the timing could not have been more perfect because the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak and the United States of America was at racial unrest. We know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a national protest to highlight the inequalities against African Americans and this relates to Baldwin’s work as a written protest to those who were losing hope in themselves and White America that had a lack of opportunity for Blacks.

The letter written by Baldwin was addressed to his nephew as a stylistic choice, but was meant to raise the consciousness of the young Blacks, especially men, to see beyond the societal ills of their time and work towards a prospective future for all Americans. In the passage, what Baldwin said, “Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity and fear,” was meant as a mean to elevate African Americans way of thinking from hate to love without being blinded by naivete.

The choice to make this piece a letter is most important because it signifies solidarity and strength in a personable way.  Young African Americans can relate to accepting advise from an older relative, while the older African Americans could see it as an affirmation to the truth and ideal way to encourage the younger generation to seek strength in unity amongst all Americans than segregation from whites.