James Baldwin (1924–1987)
Go Tell It on the Mountain
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1953
Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
Four of James Baldwin’s books have been repeatedly challenged or banned across the United States. As recently as 2022, his first novel, Go Tell it on the Mountain (1953), was banned by the Protect Nebraska Children coalition, along with other modern classics by Black authors, including The Color Purple (1982) by Alice Walker and Beloved (1987) by Toni Morrison.
Books by Black authors have long been the focus of challenges. According to the ACLU, “The greatest Black writers have been feared for precisely their ability to highlight the injustices of American society with clarity, lyricism, and urgency.” James Baldwin’s work is known for all these attributes. He published six novels and several collections of essays, as well as plays and poetry.
Go Tell it on the Mountain is Baldwin’s most autobiographical novel; it tells the story of John Grimes, a 14-year-old in Harlem, whose nascent sexuality complicates his relationship with his father’s church. The book also explores the backstories of John’s family members, narrating how each of them left the Jim Crow South for New York City.
: Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
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