Honors James Baldwin’s centenary with reflections on his lasting influence and activism. Celebrating the centenary of the birth of the trailblazing African American author, Encounters with James Baldwin is a wide-ranging volume of short essays, reflections, interviews and poetry. This moving collection demonstrates the significant legacy of the writer and activist who spoke truth to power during the era of the fight for Black civil liberties in the US, and after. In this literary anthology, over 30 contributors reveal the influence of Baldwin's thought, speech and writing to their personal journeys and their awareness of the need for social justice. Introduction by Stella Dadzie Three Memories of Baldwin by Rashidah Ismaili AbuBakr Blackspace by Victor Adebowale Talking about Baldwin with Victor Adebowale The World is White No Longer by Toyin Agbetu Uncle Jimmy's Calling by Rosanna Amaka The Spirit of James Baldwin by Michelle Yaa Asantewa Mea Culpa by Eugen Bacon Meeting Jimmy Baldwin in Paris by Lindsay Barrett Genius as Moral Courage by Gabriella Beckles-Raymond A Picture is Worth a Thousand Phone Calls by Alan Bell Never Make Peace with Mediocrity by Selina Brown Searching for the Centennial Man by Michael Campbell In a Photograph with James Baldwin by Fred D'Aguiar Fires in Our Time by Thomas Glave Can I get an Amen, Somebody? by Sonia Grant What Kind of World is This? by Zita Holbourne The Inspirational Blues by Paterson Joseph Letter to My Daughter by Peter Kalu James Baldwin Weeps with the Weight of Tiredness by Roy McFarlane What's Love Got to Do with It? by Ronnie McGrath Revisiting James Baldwin by Michael McMillan Six Degrees of James Baldwin by Tony Medina Of James Baldwin and Futures Not Seen by Bill V. Mullen The Fire is Now by Nducu wa Ngugi If Sonny's Blues were a Song... by Lola Oh Fahrenheit 1492 by Ewaure X. Osayande Passing by Nii Ayikwei Parkes The Amen Corner by Anton Phillips A Higher Calling by Ray Shell For Jimmy by SuAndi Wherefore, Nuncle? by Tade Thompson Letter to My Brother by Patrick Vernon James Baldwin and Black British Civil Rights by Tony Warner "Encounters with James Baldwin is the spiritual evidence seen by some of the finest writers and thinkers and doers of our times. It is their majestic love letter to J.B., a love letter that is poetry, essay, social justice, awareness, and the beautiful struggle for freedom for all that Jimmy Baldwin represented his entire life. Life, yes, the words of this remarkable collection are breath blown back to our beloved ancestor James Baldwin, and he to them, to us: air we breathe, air we need, for these troubled times." - Kevin Powell, Human and Civil Rights Activist and GRAMMY-nominated poet "Encounters with James Baldwin celebrates the author's 100th birthday. This book features over thirty contributors, who reflect on Baldwin’s life, and work both in fiction and non-fiction. Each section reflect on how his thoughts and actions affected their lives and the social justice movement. Fans of Baldwin's will appreciate learning more about his life, and of course its impact on the world." ***** - Beth Kelly, netgalley reviewer "From reflective pieces, interviews, essays, and poetic interventions, Encounters with James Baldwin confirms the enduring resonance of the life and work of James Baldwin across the globe. This is an important text for readers eager to consider the expansive legacy of arguably the most piercing and committed author and critic of the last century." - Rich Blint, writer and critic "What a joy this book is, a fabulous collection of poems, interviews, think pieces and cultural commentary, all marking and celebrating the life and work of James Baldwin. One to dip in and out of, rather than read all the way through, you need time to fully absorb what each writer has to say and process the new perspectives on Baldwin. Wonderful. " **** - Claire Estelle, Reviewer, netgalley Kadija George Sesay, co-editor, MBE, Hon. FRSL is a British literary activist, short story writer and poet of Sierra Leonean descent, and the publisher and managing editor of the magazine SABLE LitMag. Her work has earned her many awards and nominations, including the Cosmopolitan Woman of Achievement in 1994, Candace Woman of Achievement in 1996, The Voice Community Award in Literature in 1999 and the Millennium Woman of the Year in 2000. She is the General Secretary for African Writers Abroad (PEN International) and organises the Writers' HotSpot - trips for writers abroad, where she teaches creative writing and journalism courses. Rashidah Ismaili, also known as Rashidah Ismaili AbuBakr (born 1941), is a poet, fiction writer, essayist and playwright who was born in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa, and in the 1950s migrated to the US, where she still lives in Harlem, New York City. She was part of the Black Arts Movement in New York in the 1960s. She is also an arts and culture critic and taught literature by French- and English-speaking Africa