The seeker Google pays homage to the American writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwinthis Thursday (1st) — the date that marks the beginning of the annual celebration of Black History Month in the United States.
Considered one of the most prominent authors of 20th century American literature, he produced works of fiction and non-fiction, which mainly address themes such as racial struggle and issues related to sexuality and identity.
The commemorative Doodle, illustrated by artist Jon Key, is available to users accessing the platform in Baldwin’s home country, as well as Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Iceland and Austria.
Who was James Baldwin?
Caption: Writer died in France in 1987
Photo: RAPH GATTI / AFP
Born on August 2, 1924, in the city of New York, he grew up in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, where he helped raise his eight siblings. As a teenager, he followed his stepfather’s influence and became a junior minister at a local church, according to information released by Google.
O first contact with literature This happened in high school, where he became involved in the school magazine and began publishing poems, stories and plays. Throughout her time at the vehicle, she improved her writing skills and solidified her passion for writing.
In his early 20s, he started working different jobs to support his family and, at the same time, set the goal of writing a novel. In 1944 he won a scholarship, but it still took him 12 years to produce the first book. Entitled “Go Tell It on the Mountain” — Vá Contar na Montanha, in free translation — the semi-autobiographical work is today considered one of the best romances of English literature of the 20th century.
At age 24, Baldwin moved to Paris, France for another scholarship. The distance from his hometown allowed him to write more freely about his experiences. At the time, he did essays such as “No One Knows My Name” and “O Fogo da Próxima Vez”. The groundbreaking representations of black American masculinity he described resonated beyond the black community.
The author’s second novel was “O Quarto de Giovanni”published in 1956. The book was one of the first to portray the deep love between two meneven before the gay liberation movement gained momentum, and is considered a classic.
In the following years, he continued to write essays and novels that addressed racial tensions in the United States.
In 1974, he produced “If Beale Street Could Talk”, a tragic love story set in Harlem. The work was later adapted into a film, which won the Oscar em 2018.
Years later, in 1986, Baldwin received the Commander of the Legion of Honor, the highest French order of merit. The following year, the writer died in Saint-Paul de Vence, France.