Before he became a writer, James “Jimmy” Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories. He found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books. But Jimmy also found the blues, as a Black man living in America. When he discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice. And that voice opened the world to Jimmy.

From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays *The Fire Next Time* to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly.