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In 1963 James Baldwin’s slim (128 p.), masterful nonfiction work, THE FIRE NEXT TIME, was published.
Its main themes were race relations, religion and the American dream.
Baldwin believed Black people had every right to be angry, but in order to work toward solving racial tensions, it was essential they transcend that anger and work alongside those of different color, mainly Whites.
The title derived from the book’s ending: “God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water; the fire next time!”
We as a nation have not necessarily come a long way in the ensuing almost 6 decades. It may be more a commentary on the human condition than anything else.
Fire can be a terrible thing.
Just ask the Salgado family, of AZ.
While sleeping the morning after New Year’s Eve, they were awakened by Carol, a neighbor, frantically pounding on their front door, shouting, “Wake up! Your house is on fire!”
Which indeed it was.
The Salgados — parents David and Nicole and 4 children — escaped with their lives. Their house and car were destroyed, but their lives were preserved.
And that is what really mattered.
