Friday marks the 100th birthday of James Baldwin, one of the most iconic figures in American literature and society, and one of the most treasured by the Black community.  His work so masterfully unpacked social issues, from what freedom must mean for all Black people—to all people—more than a generation after his death in 1987, that we can hear him in the work of Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé today.

As much as it was his orchestration of words, it was also how deeply intentional and how deeply specific he was with those words, ensuring every single one was earned.  His commitment to be fiercely dedicated to the truth as he knew it, sat with it, studied it until he finally danced with it on the page for us, allowed him a fearlessness in his exploration of race, sexuality, Americanism and oppression.

On Kendrick Lamar’s first defining album, To Pimp a Butterfly, for instance, we hear the echo of Baldwin’s reflections on systemic racism and the struggle for Black liberation. Lamar’s poignant lyrics and evocative storytelling mirror Baldwin’s incisive critique of American society.

Similarly, Beyoncé’s Lemonade visual album channels Baldwin’s exploration of Black identity and resilience, weaving a narrative that celebrates Black culture while confronting the pain inflicted by racial and gender oppression.

Source: James Baldwin At 100: His Genius Influenced Black Musicians