Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years. (Podcast Hosted by Aldo B. Martin & Dr. Frank Leon Roberts)

As they discuss James Baldwin's poem, "Youth," Aldo and Dr. Roberts bring up the importance of music in the literary world of James Baldwin.  Dr. Roberts argues that one of Baldwin's literary themes is  taking care of and providing counsel to young people.  Dr. Roberts discusses how some elements of "The Fire Next Time" has some of the same elements as "Youth."    Aldo suggests that some of Baldwin's latter poems depict a departure from the stance held in "Youth."  After acknowledging Baldwin's symbolic role as "Uncle Jimmy," Aldo and Dr. Roberts discuss the first time that they themselves were referred to as "unk."  "The unk narratives, begin now..."

Episode References:
Who Can Afford To Improvise by Ed Pavlic
The Fire Next Time
Baldwin Collected Essays
Philip Brian Harper
Book of Exodus Chapter 13; Verse 21
Jimmy's Blues
"Unk"

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

Baldwin wrote several entries in the Spring 1941 issue of the Magpie, including a poem titled "Closing Doors."  Aldo suggests that the poem is about lost opportunity.  Dr. Roberts discusses how James Baldwin's early poems allow us to view and examine Baldwin in a light that adds to his global recognition as a novelist and essayist. 

"Closing Doors" is performed by Elena from 3B

Episode References:
Richard Avedon
Iambic Pentameter
Poetry Is Not A Luxury by Audre Lorde
Hilton Als
God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin
Jimmy's Blues

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

In the Spring 1941 edition of "The Magpie," James Baldwin published a play titled "These Two."  Dr. Roberts and Aldo discuss how some of the elements, themes, and literary strategies used in this piece are some of the same components that Baldwin would use in his future works. 

These Two is Narrated by Tina E and Performed by:
Elena from 3B as David
Tina E. as Tom

Episode References:
Native Son by Richard Wright
The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neil
Dusk of Dawn by W.E.B. Du Bois
Orilla Winfield (Bill Miller)
Death of the Author is the Birth of the Reader
Beauford Delany

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern Maria Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

In this week's episode, Professor Roberts and Aldo discuss the short story "The Woman At The Well."  Written in 1941, it is a short story about an example of racism that leads to a violent outcome.  Long before he became known as a Civil Rights Activist of the 1960s, James Baldwin wrote about racial injustice as an adolescent.   

This is our final episode for now.  We will return with more stories and episodes in the near future. 

References made in this episode:
 A. Philip Randolph and the March On Washington
The Murder of Emmett Till
Why Do We Hate Immigrants by Kevin Powell

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey 

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

In this episode we jump to the year 1942 and delve into a poem titled "Black Girl Shouting."   Professor Roberts discusses how this poem contains four elements that would become Baldwin touchstone themes in his future work.   Aldo discusses how the themes of religion and suffering are infused in this poem.   As they discuss the poem, Aldo and Professor Roberts come to realize that they each have their own perceptions and interpretations of the poem's themes. 

Episode References:
The Infamous Lynching Site That Still Stands in Mississippi
We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Amiri Baraka
Roland Barthes: The Death of the Author
The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs
Berdis Baldwin
Lorraine Hansberry
Looking for Lorraine by Imani Perry
Billie Holiday
Bessie Smith
Josephine Baker
Nina Simone

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weather

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

In this episode Aldo and Professor Roberts examine the poem To Her.  In speaking about this poem, the duo could not help but to revert back to a previous work, Paradise, and see similarities in their origins 

Professor Roberts eludes to the three critical stages of Baldwin’s literary career, and how the poem, To Her, has a link to one of those stages.  Professor Roberts also argues that this poem may speak to the notion of a young boy who was trying to perform a certain type of masculine identity as it pertains to his upbringing.   The notion of the Magpie as being young Baldwin’s literary laboratory is also discussed.

To Her is read by Elena from 3B

Episode References:
Jimmy's Blues
Countee Cullen

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey 

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

In this episode we examine the poem "Paradise," published in the winter of 1941.  Professor Roberts sees the poem "Paradise" as laden with the influences of Countee Cullen, who is a poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Baldwin’s former middle school teacher, a Clinton graduate, and was once an editor for The Magpie.  Professor Roberts also argues that "Paradise" can be considered as having elements of romanticism and explains to us why.    Aldo discusses the usage of the word paradise through the juxtaposition of mental health struggles.   The both of them also discuss the poem's religious assertions and evocations. 

Paradise is read by Elena from 3B

Episode References:
Larry Doby
Romanticism
Post Structuralist Literary Theory
Phylis Wheatley

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey 

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

Before he became an English professor, Dr. Roberts was a fan of James Baldwin.  Before he became a podcast creator, Aldo B. Martin was a fan of James Baldwin.  In this episode, the two of them take the audience on a brief trip down memory lane and recount the stories of how they first discovered James Baldwin. 

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey 

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

Peace on Earth is the first story that fifteen year old James Baldwin writes in the Magpie.  It’s a story about four friends entrenched in a fox hole, in the middle of an unnamed war.

Professor Roberts points out how the themes of inter-ethnic friendships and collaborations stand out to him in this story.  He also suggests that the story is about Americans abroad; a theme that would follow Baldwin into adulthood.  All the while, he and Aldo discuss how the themes of religion, friendship, and a global outlook are interwoven into this story. 

Peace on Earth is read by Elena from 3B

Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey 

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

James Baldwin is regarded as one of the most important American writers and activists of the 20th century.  DeWitt Clinton High School was one of the first schools established in the history of a five borough New York City.  It was as this institution that Baldwin was a student, and it was at this institution that Baldwin practices his literary abilities as a writer for "The Magpie."

In this first episode, Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin discuss why Baldwin matters; why Clinton High School is important; and why The Magpie is pivotal. 

Podcast References:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern Maria Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography  by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J.  Garvey

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube

Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu

More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast

Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin