God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin

When author James Baldwin passed away in 1987, he left behind a remarkable collection of writings: novels, poetry, movie scripts, and, most notably, essays. A close friend and ally of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers, Baldwin played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. Despite his early success as a writer, he grappled with the challenge of maintaining his personal voice while simultaneously representing the collective experience of the community.

Collaborating with prestigious contributors such as Baldwin biographer David Leeming and novelist Jamaica Kincaid, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hilton Als presents God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin. This impactful tribute delves into Baldwin's vast impact on cinema, theater, essays, and critical studies of Black America. Alongside insightful essays from personal contemporaries and inspired artists, this mosaic memorial closely examines Baldwin's various tones and reinforces his belief that, as humans, we have the potential to love and connect with each other in all our greatness.

Artists include: Diane Arbus, Eugène Atget, Richard Avedon, Don Bachardy, Alvin Baltrop, Anthony Barboza, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Beauford Delaney, Marlene Dumas, Glenn Ligon, George McCalman, Alice Neel, Elle Pérez, Cameron Rowland, Kara Walker, James Welling, Larry Wolhandler.

Authors include:Stephen Best, Daphne A. Brooks, Teju Cole, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Barry Jenkins, Jamaica Kincaid, David Leeming, Darryl Pinckney.