"Was being born black, gay and poor a 'burden'?" // Book review: 'The Cross of Redemption' by James Baldwin

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By Lynell George

Not infrequently, James Baldwin found himself quite publicly fielding a deeply presuming question. Though versions varied over time, the rough paraphrase was this: "Was being born black, gay and poor a 'burden'?" Did he ever wonder, "Why me?"

A dynamic, trailblazing presence on erudite TV chat shows as well as a de facto talking head booked to parse the complex territory of the Negro Problem, Baldwin was always ready with the not-so-inscrutable smile, then the ice-water answer: "No. I thought I'd hit the jackpot."

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The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings, edited by Randall Kenan, will be released on August 24, 2010.