National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward takes James Baldwin’s 1963 examination of race in America,The Fire Next Time, as a jumping off point for this groundbreaking collection of essays & poems about race from the most important voices of her generation & our time.In light of recent tragedies & widespread protests across the nation,The Progressivemagazine republished one of its most famous pieces:James Baldwin’s1962“Letter to My Nephew,”which was later published in his landmark book,The Fire Next Time. Addressing his 15-year-old namesake on the 100th anniversary of theEmancipation Proclamation,Baldwinwrote: “You know and I know, that the country is celebrating 100 years of freedom 100 years too soon.”AuthorJesmyn Wardknows thatBaldwin’swords ring as true as ever today. In response, she has gathered short essays, memoir, & a few essential poems to engage the question ofracein theUnited States. And she has turned to some of her generation’s most original thinkers & writers to give voice to their concerns.The Fire This Timeis divided into three parts that shine a light on the darkest corners of our history, wrestle with our current predicament, & envision a better future. Of the 18 pieces, 10 were written specifically for this volume.In the 50-odd years sinceBaldwin’sessay was published, entire generationshavedared everything & made significant progress. But the idea that we are living in the post-Civil Rights era, that we are a“post-racial”society is an inaccurate & harmful reflection of a truth the country must confront.Baldwin’s“fire next time”is now upon us, and it needs to be talked about.Contributors:Carol Anderson, Jericho Brown, Garnette Cadogan, Edwidge Danticat, Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, Mitchell S. Jackson, Honoree Jeffers, Kima Jones, Kiese Laymon, Daniel Jose Older, Emily Raboteau, Claudia Rankine, Clint Smith, Natasha Trethewey, Wendy S. Walters, Isabel Wilkerson, & Kevin Young.