American Literature

James Baldwin is one of the foremost African American, writers of the 20th century. His life both, as a gay man, and an African American man often led him to explore issues of racial identity, and sexual identity in his books. Baldwin was also well known for exploring the intersections of the social and psychological pressures and how they influenced the development of identity. This exploration of race and sexuality has cemented Baldwins place as one of the most well known writers of the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Era. Baldwins novels are notable for the personal way in which they explore questions of identity as well as the way in which they mine complex social and psychological pressures.

Annotated Bibliography
Baldwin, James (1992) Another Country, New York, NY, Vintage Paperbacks
In this novel Baldwin explores the themes of identity, and social and psychological pressure  by focusing on the life of  Rufus Scott, a bisexual, African American Jazz musician, and the questions raised amongst his friends and family after he commits suicide. The exploration of identity expressed in this novel is useful because it supports my thesis.

Baldwin, James (1995) Blues for Mister Charlie, New York, NY, Vintage Paperbacks
In this play Baldwin explores how the social and psychological pressures of racism have shaped the African American Identity. This is done through the telling of the story of Richard Henry, an African American man who has returned from Harlem to his Southern roots in Mississippi to recover from drug addiction, who is then murdered by a racist white man. This focuses on the complex social and psychological pressures created by racism and bigotry. This novel is applicable because it focuses on the social and psychological pressures that shape identity.

Baldwin, James (2000) Giovannis Room, London, UK, Delta Press
This novel looks at issues of identity through the eyes of a young African American man   living as an   expatriate in Paris in the 1950s. This novel also focuses on how social and psychological pressure influence and interact with racial and sexual identity. Baldwin, James (2000) Go Tell it on the Mountain, New York,
NY, Vintage Paperbacks

This book is the tale of John Grimes, the son of a Harlem preacher during the Great Depression. Baldwin explores the dynamics of family dysfunctionality, and how this impacts Johns developing identity and views on the world around them.

Baldwin, James (1984) Notes on a Native  Son, Boston, BA, Beacon Press
In this non-fiction wok, Baldwin explores the African American identity, and what it truly means to be Black in America. He focuses on life in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and how the social and psychological pressures of the time, fostered the growth the new African American identity that would lead to the flowering of African American culture.

Baldwin, James (1995) Going to Meet the Man Stories, New York, NY, Vintage Paperbacks
This book is a series of short stories that explores how race, gender, and sexual preference influence the development of identity. Baldwin mainly focuses on the medium of social pressure and psychological of physical pain as a determining factor in identity development.
Baldwin, James (2008) If Beale Street Could Talk, New York, NY, Vintage Paperbacks
 In this novel Baldwin looks at the story of Trish and Fonny a young couple living in Harlem. Fonny is falsely accused of rape and the story explores the tale of the couples search for justice. This novel explores how racial injustice influences identity.

Baldwin, James (2007) One Day When I Was Lost, New York , NY, Vintage Paperbacks
In this biography, Baldwin explores the many facets of Malcolm X, one of the great African American leaders of the 20th century. He explores the many facets of Malcolm Xs identity including how the social and psychological pressures of growing up the son of a Baptist minister, and his prison time shaped his identity and led him to become one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.
Baldwin, James (1998) Tell Me How Long the Trains Been Gone, New York, NY, Vintage Paperbacks
This novel explores how ones final task in the development of identity is to confront the fact that everyone dies. We see this through the eyes of actor, Leo Proudhammer as he is confronted with both his mistakes and his achievements as doctors attempt to revive him after he becomes the victim of a heart attack. This novel explores how social and psychological pressures, and well and basic human life stages can influence the development of identity.

Baldwin, James (2000) The Fire Next Time, New York, Steck-Vaughn Publications
This book of essays explores race relations and human identity in the United States. Baldwin argues that the United States has always been a multi-racial society, and it is simply the lack of acceptance and tolerance that prevents diverse racial and cultural groups from fully integrating into American Society. This book explores how the social and psychological pressures of race relations creates a divided national identity