Notes from America with Kai Wright

Writer Hisham Matar on James Baldwin’s Patience


Listen Later

In the 10th episode of “Notes on a Native Son,” host Razia Iqbal sits down with writer and former architect Hisham Matar. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his profound and painful memoir, “The Return,” which chronicles his return to Libya after the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi. Gaddafi had his father Jaballa kidnapped and thrown into jail, never to be seen again. This has haunted Matar's life and work, an overshadowing that he has transformed into books of extraordinary power and beauty.

For this episode, Matar speaks with Iqbal about one of Baldwin’s profound television appearances in which Baldwin breaks down the foundational flaws of America’s racial hierarchy. Matar says Baldwin’s calm and patient demeanor on the program strengthens his powerful arguments, making it an even more compelling watch.

Matar teaches at Barnard College in New York. His first novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and his third novel was longlisted for the same prize.

Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at [email protected]. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.

Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Notes from America with Kai WrightBy WNYC Studios

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,538 ratings


More shows like Notes from America with Kai Wright

View all
Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,103 Listeners

On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,110 Listeners

The Brian Lehrer Show by WNYC

The Brian Lehrer Show

1,537 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,935 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,637 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,151 Listeners

Death, Sex & Money by Slate Podcasts

Death, Sex & Money

7,693 Listeners

Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

Reveal

8,216 Listeners

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

3,497 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,357 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,632 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,530 Listeners

More Perfect by WNYC Studios

More Perfect

14,425 Listeners

It's Been a Minute by NPR

It's Been a Minute

8,921 Listeners

Spooked by KQED and Snap Studios

Spooked

16,352 Listeners

The Anthropocene Reviewed by Complexly, John Green

The Anthropocene Reviewed

9,297 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,965 Listeners

Dolly Parton's America by WNYC Studios & OSM Audio

Dolly Parton's America

16,346 Listeners

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast by WNYC Studios

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

671 Listeners

Radiolab for Kids by WNYC

Radiolab for Kids

1,015 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,216 Listeners

The Interview by The New York Times

The Interview

1,452 Listeners