James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time (Reading Group) [Online]
Full Tuition: $200 — Scholarship options are available in the drop-down enrollment menu for you to self-select. To pay in installments, choose to pay with PayPal at check out.
Instructor: D.M. Spratley | 3-weeks | Mondays September 16 - 30 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET | ONLINE
In The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin affirmed Black Americans’ lived understanding of the root of racial tension as racism itself—a force of oppression exercised by white America. Baldwin presents racism as a psychological burden from which white America must be freed in order for all people to be freed. He writes, “There is no reason for you to try to become like white people and there is no basis whatever for their impertinent assumption that they must accept you. The terrible thing, old buddy, is that you must accept them.[…] They are, in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it.” Baldwin’s urgent message speaks directly to the political and racial climate of today, as we face rising white nationalism that threatens to further seize the levers of power in the US and globally. In the book’s opening essay, “My Dungeon Shook," Baldwin urges his nephew, James, to stand fast in the understanding that the United States is his home, and that he has the power to change the course of its history.
In this three week reading group, we will read and discuss The Fire Next Time, with no other preparation required to participate. We will explore Baldwin’s work both from the perspective of its original historical context and a contemporary application of its message.
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Recordings may be provided upon request for missed classes.
Sliding Scale: Night School Bar pays instructors and staff a living wage. We ask that people who make above the living wage threshold for their area strongly consider choosing 75% or higher tuition tiers in order to support our own living wage program. For Durham, NC, where we are located, the living wage threshold is $49,000 for an individual. All scholarship needs are self-assessed, and we will never request or require proof of need.
Scholarships: We are currently able to offer three full scholarships per class. Our full scholarship tier is a nonrefundable offering, limited to one per student per month. Because our scholarship funding is limited, selecting multiple full scholarships in a single month will result in disenrollment from all classes. If the scholarship tier you need is sold out please email us directly, and we will add you to a waitlist and notify you if additional scholarships become available. Please see our FAQ for more information, including installment plans and refund policy.
Asynchronous Auditing: Classes are discussion-based and designed to be taken synchronously. However, we do offer an asynchronous audit option for most online classes if you need to follow along at your own pace. You must choose the audit option to receive all course recordings; please do not register using a scholarship if you do not plan to attend the majority of class sessions as you will not receive the recording materials to follow along. We do not automatically offer scholarships for auditors, but if you need one, you may request one by filling out this form.
Full Tuition: $200 — Scholarship options are available in the drop-down enrollment menu for you to self-select. To pay in installments, choose to pay with PayPal at check out.
Instructor: D.M. Spratley | 3-weeks | Mondays September 16 - 30 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET | ONLINE
In The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin affirmed Black Americans’ lived understanding of the root of racial tension as racism itself—a force of oppression exercised by white America. Baldwin presents racism as a psychological burden from which white America must be freed in order for all people to be freed. He writes, “There is no reason for you to try to become like white people and there is no basis whatever for their impertinent assumption that they must accept you. The terrible thing, old buddy, is that you must accept them.[…] They are, in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it.” Baldwin’s urgent message speaks directly to the political and racial climate of today, as we face rising white nationalism that threatens to further seize the levers of power in the US and globally. In the book’s opening essay, “My Dungeon Shook," Baldwin urges his nephew, James, to stand fast in the understanding that the United States is his home, and that he has the power to change the course of its history.
In this three week reading group, we will read and discuss The Fire Next Time, with no other preparation required to participate. We will explore Baldwin’s work both from the perspective of its original historical context and a contemporary application of its message.
—
Recordings may be provided upon request for missed classes.
Sliding Scale: Night School Bar pays instructors and staff a living wage. We ask that people who make above the living wage threshold for their area strongly consider choosing 75% or higher tuition tiers in order to support our own living wage program. For Durham, NC, where we are located, the living wage threshold is $49,000 for an individual. All scholarship needs are self-assessed, and we will never request or require proof of need.
Scholarships: We are currently able to offer three full scholarships per class. Our full scholarship tier is a nonrefundable offering, limited to one per student per month. Because our scholarship funding is limited, selecting multiple full scholarships in a single month will result in disenrollment from all classes. If the scholarship tier you need is sold out please email us directly, and we will add you to a waitlist and notify you if additional scholarships become available. Please see our FAQ for more information, including installment plans and refund policy.
Asynchronous Auditing: Classes are discussion-based and designed to be taken synchronously. However, we do offer an asynchronous audit option for most online classes if you need to follow along at your own pace. You must choose the audit option to receive all course recordings; please do not register using a scholarship if you do not plan to attend the majority of class sessions as you will not receive the recording materials to follow along. We do not automatically offer scholarships for auditors, but if you need one, you may request one by filling out this form.
Full Tuition: $200 — Scholarship options are available in the drop-down enrollment menu for you to self-select. To pay in installments, choose to pay with PayPal at check out.
Instructor: D.M. Spratley | 3-weeks | Mondays September 16 - 30 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET | ONLINE
In The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin affirmed Black Americans’ lived understanding of the root of racial tension as racism itself—a force of oppression exercised by white America. Baldwin presents racism as a psychological burden from which white America must be freed in order for all people to be freed. He writes, “There is no reason for you to try to become like white people and there is no basis whatever for their impertinent assumption that they must accept you. The terrible thing, old buddy, is that you must accept them.[…] They are, in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it, they cannot be released from it.” Baldwin’s urgent message speaks directly to the political and racial climate of today, as we face rising white nationalism that threatens to further seize the levers of power in the US and globally. In the book’s opening essay, “My Dungeon Shook," Baldwin urges his nephew, James, to stand fast in the understanding that the United States is his home, and that he has the power to change the course of its history.
In this three week reading group, we will read and discuss The Fire Next Time, with no other preparation required to participate. We will explore Baldwin’s work both from the perspective of its original historical context and a contemporary application of its message.
—
Recordings may be provided upon request for missed classes.
Sliding Scale: Night School Bar pays instructors and staff a living wage. We ask that people who make above the living wage threshold for their area strongly consider choosing 75% or higher tuition tiers in order to support our own living wage program. For Durham, NC, where we are located, the living wage threshold is $49,000 for an individual. All scholarship needs are self-assessed, and we will never request or require proof of need.
Scholarships: We are currently able to offer three full scholarships per class. Our full scholarship tier is a nonrefundable offering, limited to one per student per month. Because our scholarship funding is limited, selecting multiple full scholarships in a single month will result in disenrollment from all classes. If the scholarship tier you need is sold out please email us directly, and we will add you to a waitlist and notify you if additional scholarships become available. Please see our FAQ for more information, including installment plans and refund policy.
Asynchronous Auditing: Classes are discussion-based and designed to be taken synchronously. However, we do offer an asynchronous audit option for most online classes if you need to follow along at your own pace. You must choose the audit option to receive all course recordings; please do not register using a scholarship if you do not plan to attend the majority of class sessions as you will not receive the recording materials to follow along. We do not automatically offer scholarships for auditors, but if you need one, you may request one by filling out this form.