BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Book Club: The Fire Next Time #3 METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260512T181500 DTEND:20260512T194500 DTSTAMP:20260512T181500 UID:2026/book-club-the-fire-next-t@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260414T143125 LOCATION: SUMMARY:Book Club: The Fire Next Time #3 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

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

The Library Book Club is everybody’s book club. Fan cy a refreshing read, a change of scenery and a nouris hing encounter? Come and read The Fire Next Time w ith us! 

About the book and its author 

The Fire Next Time consists of two ess ays: 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 Region of My Mind;” and the former  ”My Dungeon Shook,” which is a letter Baldwin wro te to his nephew a few months later, on occasion of th e 100-year anniversary of the emancipation of all enslaved people in the USA. It is in this chronological order that the Library Book Club will read the essays. 

James Baldwin (1924 – 1987) grew up in Harlem, New York City, and was a writ er of novels, essays, poems and plays; as well as civil rig hts activist and public intellectual. At age 24, he left Ne w York City for Paris, where he lived nine years, and which would be a gateway for years of travel across Eurasia and Africa. It is in this context, of observing his home country from abr oad and hearing of the civil rights movement, that he wrote the two essays at hand. 

In The Fire Next Time&n bsp;Baldwin manages a societal critique that is deeply pers onal, clear cut yet loving, and activating. In our own time, tha t is seemingly defined by fracture, it is worthwhile t o sit with his observant, patient and invigorating ana lysis. What can we learn from Baldwin’s portrayal of race, religion and society in our own context; and what wo uld we have to add? 

“This innocent country set you down in a ghetto in which, in fact, it intended that you should peris h. Let me spell out precisely what I mean by that, for the heart of t he matter is here, and the root of my dispute with my country. You we re born where you were born and faced the future that you faced becau se you were black and for no other reason.” -James Baldwin, � �My Dungeon Shook,” The Fire Next Time (Penguin, 2024): p. 5.

Practicalities 

Schedule 

5:30 p. m. walk-in: you’re welcome to come in early, to bridg e time or to bring and have dinner. 

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

6:25 p. m. group discussion: we share our experience and findin gs reading the book so far. 

7:25 p.m.&nb sp;summarising: we look ahead to the next session and summa rise today’s session. 

7:45 p.m. e nd or socialising: we end the session, although you’re welcome to s tick around until the building closes. 

About the  Library Book Club 

The Library Book Club i s for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each yea r, and try to throw something new into the mix each time; passin g fiction and 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 lik e to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involv ed is through the group chat (WhatsApp). 

DESCRIPTION: 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 Next Time with us! 

About the book and its author&nbs p;

The Fire Next Time consists of two essays:  ;the latter is “Down at the Cross,” which appeared in < em>The New Yorker on 10 and 17 November 1962 under the title “Letter from a Region of My Mind;” and the former ” My Dungeon Shook,” which is a letter Baldwin wrote t o his nephew a few months later, on occasion of the 100-yea r anniversary of the emancipation of all enslaved people in the USA. It is in this chronological order that the Library Book Clu b will read the essays.  James Baldwin (1924 – 1987) grew up in Harlem, New York City, and was a writer of novels, e ssays, poems and plays; as well as civil rights activist an d public intellectual. At age 24, he left New York City for Paris, where he lived nine years, and which would be a gateway for&n bsp;years of travel across Eurasia and Africa. It is in this con text, of observing his home country from abroad and he aring of the civil rights movement, that he wrote the two essays at h and.  In The Fire Next Time Baldwin mana ges a societal critique that is deeply personal, clear cut yet l oving, and activating. In our own time, that is seemingly&n bsp;defined by fracture, it is worthwhile to sit with his observ ant, patient and invigorating analysis. What can we learn from Baldwin’s portrayal of race, religion& nbsp;and society in our own context; and what would we have to add?&n bsp; “This innocent country set you down in a ghetto in which, in fact, it intended that you should perish. Let me spell out precise ly what I mean by that, for the heart of the matter is here, and the root of my dispute with my country. You were born where you were born and faced the future that you faced because you were black and for n o other reason.” -James Baldwin, “My Dungeon Shook,” T he Fire Next Time (Penguin, 2024): p. 5.

Practicalit ies 

Sched ule 

5:30 p.m. walk-in: you� ��re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have di nner.  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 discussion: we shar e our experience and findings reading the book so far.  7:25 p.m. summarising: we look ahead to the next s ession and summarise today’s session.  7:45 p.m.< /strong> end or socialising: we end the session, although you’ re welcome to stick around until the building closes. 

About the Library Book Club 

The Library B ook Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books eac h year, and try to throw something new into the mix each ti me; passing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, short sto ries 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 through the group chat (WhatsApp).  In November 1 962 James Baldwin’s essay “Letter from a Region of My Mind”  appeared in The New Yorker. It would become a marker in USA civil rights history — his plea to ‘end the racial nightmare’ was too conciliatory for some, yet transformative for others. His re flection on race, religion & society is essential reading for ou r own day and age. END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR