…one of the great lovers of the twentieth century, and by lovers I’m not speaking of sexual prowess — I’m speaking of a curiosity about people, a generosity, a fascination with the human story, its travails and triumphs, which I believe are essential to any great writer. I would like to suggest that we “James Baldwin” each other this weekend, that we listen to each other, that we engage, and get into the deliciousness of difference, that we appreciate how each of us has arrived at this particular welcome table. When I see Baldwin in my dreams, I see his eyes, the large eyes his stepfather humiliated him for, …
Max S. Gordon