Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years. (Podcast Hosted by Aldo B. Martin & Dr. Frank Leon Roberts)

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Epilogue Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

In the final episode, Professor Roberts and Aldo discuss their thoughts and discoveries in holding space for this subject matter. The duo also attempt to explain why James Baldwin was, is, and will always be important.
Episode References
The Welcome Table
Herman "Bill" Porter
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The James Baldwin Papers
Ferncliff Cemetery Association
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J. Garvey

Finding James Baldwin on Instagram
Finding James Baldwin Youtube
Learn more about Dr. Frank Leon Roberts at Amherst.edu
More podcasts by Aldo B. Martin:
The Reclamation
The Fatherhood Project
YALD. The Podcast
Jammin' on the One
So...Tell Me About Your Podcast
Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years Podcast is
Researched by Dr. Frank Leon Roberts and Aldo B. Martin
Performed by Elena from 3B and Tina E.
Edited by Aldo B. Martin
Produced by Aldo B. Martin

Chapter 17 - Rendezvous with Life Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

This episode discusses an interview that teenage Baldwin conducted in the Magpie. Also discussed, is James Baldwin's student/teacher relationship with Harlem Renaissance poet, Countee Cullen. Elena from 3B joins Aldo as a special guest host for this episode (don't worry - Professor. Roberts will be back next week!). Elena and Aldo discuss how the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights Movement are directly linked to Clinton High School and James Baldwin.
"Rendezvous with Life" (the interview) is read by Emmanuel and Harrison
"Rendezvous with Life" (the poem) is read by Harrison
Episode References:
Countee Cullen
The Harlem Renaissance
Alain Locke
The New Negro
I Have A Rendezvous with Death by Alan Seeger
I Have A Rendezvous with Life by Countee Cullen
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The

Chapter 16 - Judgment Day Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

In this poem, titled "Judgment Day" young James Baldwin again experiments with the usage of African American Vernacular English. Professor Roberts argues that this poem is the most defiant of Baldwin's Magpie work. This episode then takes a look at one of James Baldwin's high school teachers, Abe Meeropol (Abel Meerpolsky). Aldo and Professor Roberts examine Abe Meeropol's contributions to the Magpie, to young Baldwin, and to the world.
"Judgment Day" is read by Tina E.
"The Dreamer" is read by Emmanuel
Episode References:
Abe Meeropol
Strange Fruit
Blues for Mr. Charlie
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The James Baldwin Papers
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J. Garvey

Chapter 15 - Loose Stone Rolling Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

In his latter years at DeWitt Clinton High School, James Baldwin wrote a poem titled “Loose Stone Rolling.” Professor Roberts argues that young Baldwin was proclaiming his life’s purpose with this poem. Aldo argues that such a proclamation was made years prior, during Baldwin's middle school days. The conversation then shifts as the duo introduce and discuss yet another one of Baldwin’s peer collaborators at the Magpie: world renowned photographer, Richard Avedon
"Loose Stone Rolling" is read by Elena from 3B
"Spring At Coventry" is read by Emmanuel

Episode References
Richard Avedon
The Ring Shout
The Changing Same
The Color Purple
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The James Baldwin Papers
Nothing Personal
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Pa

Chapter 14 - Sonnet Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Also Professor Roberts and Aldo discuss "Sonnet," they borrow some of their thoughts from Professor Roberts' students. The duo continue with the theme of "peer collaboration" and introduce another one of James Baldwin's Magpie counterparts: Emile Capouya. In discussing his partnership with them, Professor Roberts and Aldo argue that Baldwin's Magpie peers added value to his life.
"Sonnet" is read by Elena from 3B
"Untitled" is read by Emmanuel
Episode References:
Emile Capouya
James Baldwin Speech at Amherst College
The Five Colleges
Sonnet
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J. Garvey

Chapter 13 - Incident in London Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

One of the more noteworthy elements about "The Magpie," is the element of peer collaboration. While James Baldwin, the "Magpie" editor and writer, is the subject of this podcast, young Baldwin was also a part of a network of gifted and young writers, who all wrote for "The Magpie." This episode introduces us to one of Baldwin's peers/collaborators/friends: Sol Stein
Incident in London is read by Tina E.
Three Houses is read by Myron Abernathy

Episode References:
Blitz in London
Ernie Pyle
Book of Amos
Set Thine House in Order
E Plurubis Unum
Uber Alles
New York Times Review of "Notes of a Native Son" by Langston Hughes
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen

Chapter 12 - Aunt Tina Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

"Aunt Tina," the fourth short story that James Baldwin wrote for "The Magpie," may have been the inspiration for some of the fictional characters that James Baldwin would go on create in his later years. In addition, Dr. Roberts argues that "Aunt Tina" may have been inspired by people that young Baldwin either knew, or knew about. .
Episode References
Bette Davis
Mother Rosa Horn
The Douglass Pilot
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the Parkway by G. Pelisson and J. Garvey

Chapter 11 - Mississippi Legend Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Mississippi Legend is one of the short stories that James Baldwin wrote in "The Magpie." Aldo suggests that the manner in which this short story was written, introduced the boys of Clinton High School to the world of African American Vernacular English. Dr. Roberts suggests that Baldwin writing in African American Vernacular English, was not a widely accepted practice at that time, thus making his doing so all the more noteworthy.
Mississippi Legend is performed by Tina E and produced by Elena from 3B
Episode References:
African American Vernacular English
Richard Wright
Ann Petry
Langston Hughs
Zora Neal Hurston
The Color Purple
The Amen Corner
The Story of Noah's Ark
Further Reading:
Books by James Baldwin
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen
The Castle on the P

Podcasting As Public Scholarship: Live @Amherst College Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a live recording of the special event “Podcasting as Public Scholarship: Finding James Baldwin with Aldo B. Martin and Frank Leon Roberts,” recorded at Amherst College in September 2023. Interviewed by Dr. Christopher Grobe, the Director for the Center for Humanistic Inquiry at Amherst, this episode sheds light on Martin and Roberts’s motivations for creating the podcast Finding James Baldwin; their thoughts on the value of podcasting as a form of “public scholarship,” and their assessment of the unique role that The Magpie played in shaping Baldwin’s approach to the craft of writing.

Chapter 10 - The Dream Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Aldo and Dr. Roberts discuss the poem "The Dream." Aldo suggests that the poem may not be about a person. The duo discuss the impact that Clinton High School may have had on Baldwin and the impact that it may have had on "The Magpie." Dr. Roberts brings up the notion of "spaciality and literary production" as it pertains to the creation of the contents of "The Magpie."
The Furious Passage of James Baldwin by Fern M. Eckman
The Castle on the Parkway: The Story of New York City's Dewitt Clinton High School and its Extraordinary Influence on American Life by G. Pelisson and J. Garvey
Clinton High School
Jerome Park Reservoir
A Dream - Debarge
WBLS
Mosholu Parkway
Further Reading:
James Baldwin
James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming
Talking At The Gates: by James Campbell
Begin Again by Eddie Glaude, Jr.
Baldwin's Harlem by Herb Boyd
James Baldwin: Artist on Fire by W.J. Weatherby
James Baldwin: Living in Fire by Bill V. Mullen

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Finding James Baldwin: The Magpie Years. (Podcast Hosted by Aldo B. Martin & Dr. Frank Leon Roberts)

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