BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Book Club: The Fire Next Time #1 METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260414T181500 DTEND:20260414T194500 DTSTAMP:20260414T181500 UID:book-club-the-fire-next-time-1@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260925T010514 LOCATION: SUMMARY:Book Club: The Fire Next Time #1 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

In November 1962&nbs p;James Baldwin’s essay “Letter from a Region of My Mind”& nbsp;appeared in The New Yorker. It would become a marker i n USA civil rights history — his plea to ‘end the racial nightmare’ was too conciliatory for some,&nbs p;yet transformative for others. His reflection on rac e, religion & society is essential reading fo r our own day and age.

The Library Book Club is everybody� ��s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a change of scenery  ;and a nourishing encounter? Come and read The Fire Nex t Time with us! 

About the book an d its author 

The Fire Next Time c onsists of two essays: the latter is “Down at the Cross,� �� which appeared in The New Yorker on 10 and 17 N ovember 1962 under the title “Letter from a Region of My Mind; ” and the former ”My Dungeon Shook,” which is a lette r Baldwin wrote to his nephew a few months later,  ;on occasion of the 100-year anniversary of the emancipation of& nbsp;all enslaved people in the USA. It is in this chronological orde r that the Library Book Club will read the essays. 

James Baldwin (1924 – 1987) grew up in Harlem, New York City, a nd was a writer of novels, essays, poems and plays; as well as civil rights activist and public intellectual. At age 2 4, he left New York City for Paris, where he lived nine years, a nd which would be a gateway for years of travel across Eura sia and Africa. It is in this context, of observing his hom e country from abroad and hearing of the civil rights movement, that he wrote the two essays at hand. 

In The Fir e Next Time Baldwin manages a societal critique t hat is deeply personal, clear cut yet loving, and activating. In our own time, that is seemingly defined by fracture, it is worthwhile to sit with his observant, patient and&nbs p;invigorating analysis. What can we learn from Baldwin’s  portrayal of race, religion and society in our own co ntext; and what would we have to add? 

“… America and all the Western nations will be forced to re-examine themselves a nd release themselves from many things that are now taken to be sacre d, and to discard nearly all the assumptions that have been used to j ustify their lives and their anguish and their crimes so long.” -James Baldwin, “Down at the Cross,” The Fire Next Tim e (Penguin, 2024): p. 34. 

Practicaliti es 

Schedule  

5:30 p.m. walk-in: you� �re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have din ner. 

6:15 p.m. opening: we kick off with a round of introductions, and a brief introduction of  ;the book. 

6:25 p.m. group discussi on: we share our experience and findings reading the book so far.&nbs p;

7:25 p.m. summarising: we look ahead t o the next session and summarise today’s session. 

7:45 p.m. end or socialising: we end the s ession, although you’re welcome to stick around until the building closes. 

About the Library Book Club 

The Library Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s cam pus. We read a few books each year, and try to throw someth ing new into the mix each time; passing fiction and non-fiction, poet ry and prose, short stories and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select three candidates for a season and you get to vote. If you’d like to engage with this group mor e often, the easiest way to get involved is through the group chat (WhatsA pp). 

DESCRIPTION: In November 1962 James Baldwin’s essay “Let ter from a Region of My Mind” appeared in The New Yorker. It would become a marker in USA civil rights history& nbsp;— his plea to ‘end the racial nightmare’ was too conciliatory for some, yet transformative for others.  His reflection on race, religion & society&n bsp;is essential reading for our own day and age. The Library Bo ok Club is everybody’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a c hange of scenery and a nourishing encounter? Come and read& nbsp;The Fire Next Time with us! 

About the book and its author 

The Fire Next Ti me consists of two essays: the latter is “Down at the Cross,” which appeared in The New Yorker  on 10 and 17 November 1962 under the title “Letter from a Regi on of My Mind;” and the former ”My Dungeon Shook,” which&n bsp;is a letter Baldwin wrote to his nephew a few mont hs later, on occasion of the 100-year anniversary of the em ancipation of all enslaved people in the USA. It is in this chro nological order that the Library Book Club will read the essays.  ;James Baldwin (1924 – 1987) grew up in Harlem, New York City,  and was a writer of novels, essays, poems and pl ays; as well as civil rights activist and public intellectual. A t age 24, he left New York City for Paris, where he lived nine y ears, and which would be a gateway for years of travel acro ss Eurasia and Africa. It is in this context, of observing  his home country from abroad and hearing of the civil rights mov ement, that he wrote the two essays at hand. In The Fir e Next Time Baldwin manages a societal critique t hat is deeply personal, clear cut yet loving, and activating. In our own time, that is seemingly defined by fracture, it is worthwhile to sit with his observant, patient and&nbs p;invigorating analysis. What can we learn from Baldwin’s  portrayal of race, religion and society in our own co ntext; and what would we have to add? “… America and all the Western nations will be forced to re-examine themselves and rele ase themselves from many things that are now taken to be sacred, and to discard nearly all the assumptions that have been used to justify their lives and their anguish and their crimes so long.” -Jame s Baldwin, “Down at the Cross,” The Fire Next Time& nbsp;(Penguin, 2024): p. 34. 

Practicalities  

Schedule&n bsp;

5:30 p.m. walk-in: you’re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have dinner. 6:15 p.m. opening: we kick off with a round of intr oductions, and a brief introduction of the book. 6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience and findings reading the book so far. 7:25 p.m.  summarising: we look ahead to the next session and su mmarise today’s session. 7:45 p.m. end o r socialising: we end the session, although you’re welcome to stick around until the building closes. 

About the Li brary Book Club 

The Library Book Club is for anyon e roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and  ;try to throw something new into the mix each time; passing fiction a nd non-fiction, poetry and prose, short stories and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select three candidates for a  ;season and you get to vote. If you’d like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involved is throu gh the group chat (WhatsApp).  END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR