If Beale Street Could Talk

3 Pages 857 Words

Book Review: If Beale Street Could Talk

James Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924. His first novel, Go Tell it on the Mountain, received good reviews, but more importantly, it opened a new voice in literature. Baldwin stated, “Mountain is the book I had to write if I was ever going to write anything else.” The appearance of his next novel in 1963, The Fire Next Time, appeared when the civil rights movement was expanding in the South. This story consisted of American’s refusal to face their own history.
If Beale Street Could Talk is controversial in many ways, but when judging its value in a classroom setting, it proves to be essential. James Baldwin addresses issues that are only age-appropriate for mature students in high school, but probably more beneficial for the college student. Most of the criticism that this book received is from its graphic description of racism, and its graphic language and sexual display. Although there are many reasons and qualities that this book should receive praise. For instance Beale Street shows strong qualities of honesty, family, survival, and love. This book has an important message that could be taught to students who are also facing racism or to educate the students who are not so familiar with the issue of racism. These qualities include showing insight, understanding, and awareness of racism in today’s society, although the subject of racism has come a long way since the 1960’s and 1970’s, it still has a long way to go.
Beale Street is based on a young black couple who lives in the 60’s and 70’s in the ghetto of New York. Since Fonny and Tish were little, they grew up together and

their relationship began to develop into more than just friendship. As they are developing their relationship, they see how cruel and unjust society is against blacks. The police arrest Fonny for rape on a night that he never left his apartment. The victim identifies Fonny in a line-up, but he ...