James Baldwin's children's book is re-released at last

James Baldwin, writer and social critic of the 20th century, has featured before at For Reading Addicts in a video of him from 1963 speaking to the BBC about his experiences. As a Black man, his life had challenges many of us can not even comprehend but, with courage, Baldwin spoke out and wrote about issues surrounding skin colour, sexuality, and class distinctions.

After being begged by his nephew Tejan Karefa-Smart to write a story about him, Baldwin came up with Little Man, Little Man: “I knew he was important and he was special, and I wanted some of that energy,” said Tejan, now an artist living in Paris, “I said, ‘Uncle Jimmy, when are you going to write a book about me?’”

Family photo, 1978, James and Tejan.

When Little Man, Little Man was first published in 1978 it received tepid reviews- many believing the book was perhaps too emotionally charged, with little comfort to be drawn from the writer, others believing this was nothing more than a flight of fancy from a serious writer. Baldwin’s truth is woven throughout the story, he does not shy away from the reality of being a little Black boy growing up in 1970s Harlem. The protagonist, TJ, speaks with Baldwin’s voice- demanding the reader bring their compassion along to storytime as well as their love of literature.

French illustrator, Yoran Cazac, brings a dreamlike juxtaposition with his watercolour sketches, each picture powered by TJ’s view of his world: the outlines are sketchy, full of energy and movement, but there is a softness within, thanks to the watercolours. This contrasting world of innocence and drama- TJ plays as any child would but dreams at night of police shootings and the dangers on the streets- is perfectly illustrated by Cazac’s choice of medium.

Any literary critic worth their salt would see this book for what it is: an important representation of human life written for both children and adults of all backgrounds.