"I went [to the 135th Street Branch Library] at least three or four times a week. And I read everything there. I mean, every single book in that library. In some blind and instinctive way, I knew that what was happening in those books was also happening all around me. And I was trying to make a connection between the books and the life I saw and the life I lived."
—James Baldwin
About James Baldwin
James Baldwin wrote novels, essays, poetry, and plays. He wrote about his family, Harlem, religion, movies, music, literature, and politics. He used his platform as a writer and, later, regular guest on TV talk shows to publicly confront and challenge audiences about racism, segregation, white supremacy, homophobia, and much more. His influences included his family, the books he read at the Library, the Civil Rights Movement, and the years he spent abroad. Baldwin was an expert at paying close attention, both to the world around him and to his own feelings, and this is evident from the power of his writing: He channeled the rage he felt into expressive writing about the world.
The Contest
In celebration of the centennial of his birth, NYPL is inviting New York City teens to enter a creative contest inspired by Baldwin's wide-ranging work for the chance to be published in a special magazine and win $250.
Through short stories, essays, letters, or narrative/comic art, we want you to take inspiration from Baldwin's work and life and tell us what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, what angers you, what you’ve learned about life, or what gives you hope. Your entry can be an essay, a short story, or a letter of no more than 2,000 words, or five letter-sized pages of narrative/comic art. Enter now!
Get Inspired
If you’re new to Baldwin, here are some recommendations of where to start with his work. While we encourage you to interpret the prompt however you see fit, here are some ideas for how to get started:
- Read Go Tell It on the Mountain. Baldwin's first novel, though fictional, is based in part on his early life in Harlem, and follows the main character as he works through changes and challenges with his community. Write a short story, perhaps inspired by your own life and surroundings, about a character who is facing a life-changing moment.
- Read Notes of a Native Son. The essays in this early collection shine a light on Baldwin’s search for identity as an artist, as a Black man, and as an American. Write an essay about an issue that's important to you.
- Read The Fire Next Time. This celebrated essay collection begins with “A Letter to My Nephew,” which reveals difficult truths about life in the 1960s and contains advice, observations, and warnings from Baldwin to help his nephew survive. Write a letter to someone, real or imagined, about what you wish you could change about the world, and how you’ve learned to live through challenging circumstances.
How to Enter
Your entry can be an essay, a short story, or a letter of no more than 2,000 words, or five letter-sized pages of narrative/comic art. Submissions open Tuesday, January 21. Submit via the online form by 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 23!
Enter now!
Terms and Conditions
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM (EST) on 1/21/25 and 11:59 PM (EDT) on 3/23/25. Open to US residents who live, work, or go to school in the five boroughs of New York City, 13 to 18 years of age at the time of entry. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. View terms and conditions in full.
See James Baldwin’s Papers at the Library!
See early drafts of James Baldwin’s famous books and other special items on display at the Library, or learn about them by listening to our audio guides.
For Educators: James Baldwin Resources
Discover a free activity guide that educators can use to help teens get started on their submissions to the James Baldwin Teen Writing Contest. Plus, arrange a field trip with NYPL’s Center for Educators and Schools to see items from Baldwin’s personal collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, or explore more at the Schomburg Center!
- Download the Activity Guide
- Arrange a field trip to the James Baldwin: Mountain to Fire display in the Polonsky Exhibition at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
- Visit the JIMMY! God’s Black Revolutionary Mouth exhibition at the Schomburg Center | Arrange a tour
- More from the Center for Educators and Schools
Celebrating 100 Years of James Baldwin
Join The New York Public Library to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of James Baldwin with special exhibitions, free programs for all ages, book giveaways, and more.
Teen Voices at NYPL
At the Library, we believe that what teens have to say matters. Through our free programs and events, our dedicated Teen Centers, and the opportunities we offer to have your work published, we provide an array of ways for you to make your voice heard. Discover all the amazing things teens are doing at libraries and in our communities!
