The Baldwin family has announced “A Century of Baldwin: The Legacy Lives!,” a special celebration to commemorate the centennial birthday of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin, to be held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall this Friday, on Baldwin’s actual birthdate of August 2.
The evening will feature luminaries in art, literature, and culture for a one-night celebration of Baldwin’s lasting impact and will include a special performance by Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, and activist Rhymefest, along with acknowledgments and tributes to Baldwin from the Baldwin family and surprise guests.
The evening will also mark the launch of Baldwin United, a collective action fund in partnership with the Tides Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This family operation will provide grant assistance to global programs while promoting the James Baldwin legacy through the arts, education, and community advocacy.
“A Century of Baldwin: The Legacy Lives!” is co-produced by choreographer George Faison and the James Baldwin Centennial Committee (JBCC). The JBCC is an arm of the estate, composed of Baldwin’s nieces/nephews and created to facilitate special initiatives in conjunction with the centenary.
In addition to the event, Vintage has released a box set of Baldwin’s principal novels, featuring “Go Tell It on the Mountain” (introduction by Roxane Gay), “Giovanni’s Room” (introduction by Kevin Young), and “If Beale Street Could Talk” (introduction by Brit Bennett), with cover art by Baldwin’s friend and contemporary Beauford Delaney. Everyman’s Library has also released a major hardcover compendium of Baldwin’s nonfiction, including “The Fire Next Time,” “Nobody Knows My Name,” “No Name in the Street,” and “The Devil Finds Work,” with an introduction by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., timed to the celebration of the Baldwin centenary.
The New York Public Library will celebrate the Baldwin centenary with special exhibitions, free programs for all ages, book giveaways, and more. Visit Celebrating 100 Years of James Baldwin for more information.
Partners include Penguin Random House, the New York Public Library, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
For additional information about the Baldwin 100 celebration, visit www.jamesbaldwin100.org. Tickets are available to the public on a Choose-What-You-Pay basis; for tickets, visit www.lincolncenter.org.