On Friday, August 2, the family of iconic writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin hosted a special one-night celebration to commemorate his centennial birthday with “A Century of Baldwin: The Legacy Lives!” Held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the evening was helmed by bestselling author, motivational speaker, and coach Harriette Cole and featured luminaries of art, literature, and culture, as well as tributes and acknowledgments from the Baldwin family honoring his life and legacy.
The show opened with a moving rendition of “Precious Lord” by “Mama, I Want to Sing!” performers Letrice Arlene Sturdivant and Bishop Kevin RJ Mckoy, followed by welcome remarks from Cole. Highlights included a powerful monologue channeling the spirit of James Baldwin, performed by actor Jo D. Jonz; acknowledgments, ancestor tributes, and testimonials delivered on behalf of the Baldwin family by Karim Karefa-Smart, Darlene Burnett, and Daniel Baldwin; the never-before shared reading of the letter James Baldwin wrote to his nephew Trevor at his birth; additional readings by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Robert Jones Jr. (known as the Son of Baldwin on social media); and a special performance by Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, and activist Rhymefest of his latest album “James & Nikki: A Conversation.”
Released earlier this year, the full-length musical composition was inspired by the conversation between Baldwin and poet Nikki Giovanni.
The night culminated with all show participants and audience members joining together to sing “Happy Birthday, Jimmy!”
During the program, Trevor Baldwin (James Baldwin’s nephew and founder of the Baldwin United Fund) officially announced the launch of the fund, 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 Baldwin legacy through art, literacy, and social justice.
“A Century of Baldwin: The Legacy Lives!” was 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 and nephews that was created to facilitate special initiatives in conjunction with the centenary.
In addition to the event, Vintage recently 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 just 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 centenary.
The New York Public Library is celebrating the Baldwin centenary with special exhibitions, free programs for all ages, book giveaways, and more.
Partners include: Penguin Random House, The New York Public Library and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Visit Celebrating 100 Years of James Baldwin for more information.
About the James Baldwin Centennial Committee (JBCC)
The James Baldwin Centennial Committee (JBCC) is a family-operated entity formed as an extension of the estate to support global celebrations honoring this special milestone.
The JBCC, composed of Baldwin’s nieces and nephews, have created the Baldwin United Fund, a collective action fund at the Tides Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The fund promotes Baldwin’s legacy by distributing grants to organizations who embody his work, spirit, and activism.
About Vintage, Everyman’s Library, and Penguin Random House
Vintage Books and Everyman’s Library are imprints of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, which is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Their parent company is Bertelsmann AG, the international media company.
About the New York Public Library
For more than 125 years, the New York Public Library (NYPL) has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the NYPL offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming, and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The NYPL receives approximately 16 million visits annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, the NYPL relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the NYPL at nypl.org/support.