The Fire Next Time
Lauren Widlowski & Emma Carpenter
Main Arguments
- Racism
Baldwin argues the glorifying a specific race causes is "a recipe for murder."(82) He specifically discusses the Nazis. He goes on to discuss that the people being destroyed are innocent.
2. Religion
Baldwin argues that religion is a trap and not a source of freedom. He felt that he was lied to when he realized the bible was written by men. (35). He also makes notes that people run to faith out of fear and not in a healthy relationship with God.
3. Power
Baldwin argues that the white race contains all the power. He notes that African Americans don't have a voice. He writes that his natives descended from the white man but are still treated brutally as if they were of a different descent. He goes on to note that he was raised by the white men as him name derived from his master and his master forced him into religion.
Media connections
Rhetorical Devices
1- Allusion (82) Baldwin's use of allusion helps to explain his point about racism, specifically the glorification of certain races.
2- Tone (35) Baldwin's tone on page 35 when he was learning of the reasons behind peoples faith was confused because he had learned differently when he was a child and found himself angry for not knowing the truth.
3- Definition(104) Baldwin defines color by negation and then clearly states his viewpoint. The point of his definition is to reiterate his place in society due to the position of reality the other races are willing to accept.