Photographs by y Seitu Oronde
James Baldwin, a Harlem native who died in 1987, would have turned 90 on Saturday. Among the many tributes in a year in which his legacy as a major writer is being celebrated, one on Saturday is close to home: a portion of East 128th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, will be renamed James Baldwin Way on August 4th, 2014.
“I want people to be interested in the courage of his life choices,” Trevor Baldwin said.
The street renaming concluded with a musical procession to the National Black Theater at 2031 Fifth Avenue, between 125th and 126th Streets, with readings from “The Fire Next Time” and testimonials from those who knew Baldwin.
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Harlem World Magazine Is GREAT! Having been born and grew up in Harlem and now living in Oregon, I use HWM as a way to remind me of the past and to keep up with the present. After reading “Seitu’s World: The James Baldwin Street Naming In Harlem” it would have been great to have had names accompanying the photographs. I grew up on 128th Street and attended PS 24 (Ms Harris, Ms Davis, Ms Kelly and Mr Williams) and can’t help but think some of the “mature” folks may have been childhood friends.