I've mentioned this collection, which includes essays, articles, and talks spanning a range of nearly four decades, at various points over the past few months - in August, about grammar; in December, about American traditions; and on Tuesday, when I highlighted my favorite chapter from the book. The logical conclusion of all this attention is that I thought highly of the book; the oddsmakers tracking the TOA Book of the Year board would be advised to place it among the favorites.
The Cross of Redemption by James Baldwin (October 2020)
The pieces in this collection are not of the same standard associated with Baldwin's acclaimed work, though I hardly mean to suggest that these are rough drafts - it's more like the difference between a studio album and a concert performance. The quality I enjoy in live recordings comes through at times in this collection - I see the artist working rather than see the artist's work, and one of the rewards of this read is discovering the connection between a given topic and the larger themes of both this and Baldwin's work. But what I'll remember about The Cross of Redemption ten years from now was my realization that this collection spoke with more clarity and insight about 2020 than did most of what I read or heard throughout the year.
TOA Rating: Four out of four
In addition to the previously linked essay, I reread "Sidney Poitier" from this collection. The book was also fruitful in terms of recommended reading - I added both Soledad Brother by George Jackson and Daddy Was a Number Runner by Louise Meriwether to my future reading list. My book notes are here.
