--- title: "19 James Baldwin Quotes By Raoul Peck" description: "19 James Baldwin quotes by Raoul Peck. Plus more from Raoul Peck and more James Baldwin sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for_875058.jpg" --- > [James Baldwin is probably, for me and for many other people, one of the most extraordinary authors in this country, black or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for-many-other-people-one-of-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for_875058.jpg) > [ \[James\] Baldwin is needed even more today because he helps you focus to the essential, to what is important. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today-because-he-helps-you-focus-to/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/raoul-peck-8162_essentials_james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today_2905013.jpg) > [ \[James\] Baldwin explained that you have your own history, and that you cannot be responsible, for example, for slavery. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-explained-that-you-have-your-own-history-and-that-you/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/raoul-peck-8162_being-responsible_james-baldwin-explained-that-you-have-yo_2049190.jpg) > [ Why would anything change that has not been changed since the existence of cinema? \[James\] Baldwin somehow wakes you up to reality.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/why-would-anything-change-that-has-not-been-changed-since-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/raoul-peck-8162_changed_why-would-anything-change-that-has-not-b_1633181.jpg) > [ Over the years, he disappeared - like a lot of our leaders disappear. \[James Baldwin\] was not assassinated, but somehow he went… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot-of-our-leaders-disappear/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/raoul-peck-8162_assassination_over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot_360418.jpg) > [The role James Baldwin played in my life is incommensurable as stated above. He helped, along with a few others, to shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/the-role-james-baldwin-played-in-my-life-is-incommensurable-as-stated/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/raoul-peck-8162_debt_the-role-james-baldwin-played-in-my-life_2042661.jpg) > [ \[James\] Baldwin said the real question is not when there will be the first Negro president in this country. The important question… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-said-the-real-question-is-not-when-there-will-be-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-said-the-real-question-is_2584991.jpg) > [ \[James\] Baldwin "was one of greatest intellectuals of his time. He was an important voice, period, not an important black voice." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-one-of-greatest-intellectuals-of-his-time-he-was-an/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-was-one-of-greatest-intell_2230133.jpg) > [James Baldwin had an unrivaled understanding of politics and history and, above all, the human condition. His prose is laser sharp. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understanding-of-politics-and-history/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/raoul-peck-8162_blow_james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understan_896921.jpg) > [I started to read James Baldwin very early on in my life. At a time, as a young adult in the Sixties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-early-on-in-my-life-at-a-time-as-2/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/raoul-peck-8162_adults_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_2835120.jpg) > [I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time... not just African-American. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-one-of-the-most-important-2/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/raoul-peck-8162_america_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_2300151.jpg) > [I started to read James Baldwin very early on in my life. At a time, as a young adult in the Sixties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-early-on-in-my-life-at-a-time-as/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/raoul-peck-8162_books_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_1971792.jpg) > [ \[James\] Baldwin was a revelation for me, the kind of revelation that follows you all your life because you can go back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-the-kind-of-revelation-that/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-th_550467.jpg) > [I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time... not just African-American. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-one-of-the-most-important/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/raoul-peck-8162_african-american_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_1021503.jpg) > [ \[James\] Baldwin was a celebrity. A TV show like Kenneth Clark could put him aside of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-a-celebrity-a-tv-show-like-kenneth-clark-could-put/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-celebrity-a-tv-show_2643847.jpg) > [ It was really always about bringing back \[James\] Baldwin's words in all their rawness, in all their impact - in the way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back-james-baldwin-s-words-in-all/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/raoul-peck-8162_consequence_it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back_1244605.jpg) > [James Baldwin is one of the greatest, North American writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. A prolific writer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-north-american-writers-of-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/raoul-peck-8162_american-writer_james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-nor_156759.jpg) > [ From a young age, \[James Baldwin\] was watching all those different films. He's watching John Wayne killing off the Indians. He came… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/from-a-young-age-james-baldwin-was-watching-all-those-different-films/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/raoul-peck-8162_age_from-a-young-age-james-baldwin-was-watch_482785.jpg) > [ Today, I don't even think that people like \[James Baldwin\] are possible. He would not have that much room. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-like-james-baldwin-are-possible/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/raoul-peck-8162_people_today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-lik_848440.jpg) ## More by Raoul Peck > [America has been living on the back of the whole world! If you take how much energy we consume, like, 20 percent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/america-has-been-living-on-the-back-of-the-whole-world-if-you-take/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [You cannot be responsible for Jim Crow. You can not be responsible for racism. This is much more a problem for the person exercising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/you-cannot-be-responsible-for-jim-crow-you-can-not-be-responsible-for/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [If you asked me today if there's a piece that I would do differently - there's nothing. Regret happens with all my films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/if-you-asked-me-today-if-there-s-a-piece-that-i-would-do-differently/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [ Your tweet is as important as if you would have written a Ph.D. \[dissertation\] on the subject. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/your-tweet-is-as-important-as-if-you-would-have-written-a-ph-d/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [James Baldwin is one of the greatest, North American writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. A prolific writer and a brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-north-american-writers-of-the/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [When I left Haiti, I was eight. I went to the Congo where my father was working. The only images that I had were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/when-i-left-haiti-i-was-eight-i-went-to-the-congo-where-my-father-was/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [I have always tried to put content in my work. It is a consistent challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-have-always-tried-to-put-content-in-my-work-it-is-a-consistent/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [The system gives you two minutes to phrase a whole history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/the-system-gives-you-two-minutes-to-phrase-a-whole-history/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [ Over the years, he disappeared - like a lot of our leaders disappear. \[James Baldwin\] was not assassinated, but somehow he went through those… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot-of-our-leaders-disappear/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [You face the reality, whether it's hopeful or hopeless. What's your alternative? To lie down and die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/you-face-the-reality-whether-it-s-hopeful-or-hopeless-what-s-your/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [Just try to be yourself and resist complacency and ignorance. All you can do is work, work; work and be disciplined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/just-try-to-be-yourself-and-resist-complacency-and-ignorance-all-you/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [You're telling me Beyonce is a revolutionary? Thirty years ago, you had those guys who raised their fists at the Olympic games, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/you-re-telling-me-beyonce-is-a-revolutionary-thirty-years-ago-you-had/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [Film is carrying a lot of ideology. It's carrying an image. It's forging an image not only of the rest of the world, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/film-is-carrying-a-lot-of-ideology-it-s-carrying-an-image-it-s/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [International aid as a means of development is a major failure, and not just in Haiti.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/international-aid-as-a-means-of-development-is-a-major-failure-and/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [I studied economics. I studied industrial engineering. It wasn't until later, when I was around 26, that I really decided to go to film school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-studied-economics-i-studied-industrial-engineering-it-wasn-t-until/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/james-baldwin/raoul-peck/#itemlist", "name": "19 James Baldwin Quotes By Raoul Peck", "numberOfItems": 19, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "James Baldwin is probably, for me and for many other people, one of the most extraordinary authors in this country, black or white. And he is somebody who changed my life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for-many-other-people-one-of-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for_875058.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for_875058.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ad/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-is-probably-for-me-and-for_875058.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“James Baldwin is probably, for me and for many other people, one of the most extraordinary authors in this…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[James] Baldwin is needed even more today because he helps you focus to the essential, to what is important.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today-because-he-helps-you-focus-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/raoul-peck-8162_essentials_james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today_2905013.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/raoul-peck-8162_essentials_james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today_2905013.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/raoul-peck-8162_essentials_james-baldwin-is-needed-even-more-today_2905013.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[James] Baldwin is needed even more today because he helps you focus to the essential, to what is important.” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[James] Baldwin explained that you have your own history, and that you cannot be responsible, for example, for slavery.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-explained-that-you-have-your-own-history-and-that-you/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/raoul-peck-8162_being-responsible_james-baldwin-explained-that-you-have-yo_2049190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/raoul-peck-8162_being-responsible_james-baldwin-explained-that-you-have-yo_2049190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bf/raoul-peck-8162_being-responsible_james-baldwin-explained-that-you-have-yo_2049190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[James] Baldwin explained that you have your own history, and that you cannot be responsible, for example…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why would anything change that has not been changed since the existence of cinema? [James] Baldwin somehow wakes you up to reality. It takes you out of the dream - or out of the nightmare.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/why-would-anything-change-that-has-not-been-changed-since-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/raoul-peck-8162_changed_why-would-anything-change-that-has-not-b_1633181.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/raoul-peck-8162_changed_why-would-anything-change-that-has-not-b_1633181.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/raoul-peck-8162_changed_why-would-anything-change-that-has-not-b_1633181.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why would anything change that has not been changed since the existence of cinema? 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I think that broke him as well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot-of-our-leaders-disappear/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/raoul-peck-8162_assassination_over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot_360418.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/raoul-peck-8162_assassination_over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot_360418.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/raoul-peck-8162_assassination_over-the-years-he-disappeared-like-a-lot_360418.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Over the years, he disappeared - like a lot of our leaders disappear. 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My debt to him is invaluable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/the-role-james-baldwin-played-in-my-life-is-incommensurable-as-stated/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/raoul-peck-8162_debt_the-role-james-baldwin-played-in-my-life_2042661.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/raoul-peck-8162_debt_the-role-james-baldwin-played-in-my-life_2042661.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/raoul-peck-8162_debt_the-role-james-baldwin-played-in-my-life_2042661.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The role James Baldwin played in my life is incommensurable as stated above. He helped, along with a few…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[James] Baldwin said the real question is not when there will be the first Negro president in this country. The important question is what country he's going to be the president of.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-said-the-real-question-is-not-when-there-will-be-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-said-the-real-question-is_2584991.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-said-the-real-question-is_2584991.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e7/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-said-the-real-question-is_2584991.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[James] Baldwin said the real question is not when there will be the first Negro president in this country…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[James] Baldwin \"was one of greatest intellectuals of his time. He was an important voice, period, not an important black voice.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-one-of-greatest-intellectuals-of-his-time-he-was-an/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-was-one-of-greatest-intell_2230133.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-was-one-of-greatest-intell_2230133.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/raoul-peck-8162_black_james-baldwin-was-one-of-greatest-intell_2230133.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[James] Baldwin \"was one of greatest intellectuals of his time. He was an important voice, period, not an…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "James Baldwin had an unrivaled understanding of politics and history and, above all, the human condition. His prose is laser sharp. His onslaught is massive and leaves no room for response. Every sentence is an immediate cocked grenade. You pick it up, then realize that it is too late. It just blows up in your face. And yet he still managed to stay human, tender, accessible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understanding-of-politics-and-history/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/raoul-peck-8162_blow_james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understan_896921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/raoul-peck-8162_blow_james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understan_896921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e02/raoul-peck-8162_blow_james-baldwin-had-an-unrivaled-understan_896921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“James Baldwin had an unrivaled understanding of politics and history and, above all, the human condition…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started to read James Baldwin very early on in my life. At a time, as a young adult in the Sixties, when there were not that many authors in whom I could recognize myself, he was an important guide and mentor to me as he was to many others. He helped me understand who I was and decipher the world around me. He gave me the words to defend myself and the argumentative rhetoric to master discussions with others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-early-on-in-my-life-at-a-time-as-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/raoul-peck-8162_adults_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_2835120.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/raoul-peck-8162_adults_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_2835120.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/raoul-peck-8162_adults_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_2835120.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started to read James Baldwin very early on in my life. At a time, as a young adult in the Sixties, when…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time... not just African-American. He singled-handedly revolutionized the political, artistic, and historical discourses about America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-one-of-the-most-important-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/raoul-peck-8162_america_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_2300151.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/raoul-peck-8162_america_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_2300151.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/665/raoul-peck-8162_america_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_2300151.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started to read James Baldwin very early on in my life. At a time, as a young adult in the Sixties, when there were not that many authors in whom I could recognize myself, he was an important guide and mentor to me, as he was to many others. He helped me understand who I was and decipher the world around me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-early-on-in-my-life-at-a-time-as/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/raoul-peck-8162_books_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_1971792.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/raoul-peck-8162_books_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_1971792.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/raoul-peck-8162_books_i-started-to-read-james-baldwin-very-ear_1971792.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started to read James Baldwin very early on in my life. At a time, as a young adult in the Sixties, when…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[James] Baldwin was a revelation for me, the kind of revelation that follows you all your life because you can go back to it. It's not just about stories. It's about philosophy. It's about criticizing the world. It's about deconstructing the world around you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-the-kind-of-revelation-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-th_550467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-th_550467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-revelation-for-me-th_550467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[James] Baldwin was a revelation for me, the kind of revelation that follows you all your life because you…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time... not just African-American. He singled-handily revolutionized the political, artistic and historical discourses about America. He created his particular and original language.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-one-of-the-most-important/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/raoul-peck-8162_african-american_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_1021503.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/raoul-peck-8162_african-american_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_1021503.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/raoul-peck-8162_african-american_i-think-that-james-baldwin-is-for-sure-o_1021503.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that James Baldwin is, for sure, one of the most important American writer/thinkers of his time…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[James] Baldwin was a celebrity. A TV show like Kenneth Clark could put him aside of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. He was, at least, one of the three most important spokesmen of the movement and of the black community.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-was-a-celebrity-a-tv-show-like-kenneth-clark-could-put/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-celebrity-a-tv-show_2643847.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-celebrity-a-tv-show_2643847.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bf/raoul-peck-8162_baldwin_james-baldwin-was-a-celebrity-a-tv-show_2643847.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[James] Baldwin was a celebrity. A TV show like Kenneth Clark could put him aside of Martin Luther King Jr…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was really always about bringing back [James] Baldwin's words in all their rawness, in all their impact - in the way he analyzes not only this country but also the history of this country, the images that this country is fabricating through Hollywood, and what consequence that has in our imagination.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back-james-baldwin-s-words-in-all/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/raoul-peck-8162_consequence_it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back_1244605.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/raoul-peck-8162_consequence_it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back_1244605.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/raoul-peck-8162_consequence_it-was-really-always-about-bringing-back_1244605.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was really always about bringing back [James] Baldwin's words in all their rawness, in all their impact…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "James Baldwin is one of the greatest, North American writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. A prolific writer and a brilliant social critic, he foreshadowed the destructive trends happening now in the whole Western world and beyond, while always maintaining a sense of humanistic hope and dignity. He explored palpable, yet unspoken, intricacies of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies and the inevitable, if unnameable, tensions with personal identity, assumptions, uncertainties, yearning, and questing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-north-american-writers-of-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/raoul-peck-8162_american-writer_james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-nor_156759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/raoul-peck-8162_american-writer_james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-nor_156759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/raoul-peck-8162_american-writer_james-baldwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-nor_156759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“James Baldwin is one of the greatest, North American writers of the second half of the Twentieth Century. A…” — Raoul Peck", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "From a young age, [James Baldwin] was watching all those different films. He's watching John Wayne killing off the Indians. He came to the point that the Indians were him. You had to educate yourself because the movies were not educating you. The movies were giving you a reflection of you that was not the truth. That's the trick. The movie was also giving a reflection of what the country is. Basically, a country that wanted itself to be innocent. That's the ambivalence of Hollywood.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/from-a-young-age-james-baldwin-was-watching-all-those-different-films/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/raoul-peck-8162_age_from-a-young-age-james-baldwin-was-watch_482785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/raoul-peck-8162_age_from-a-young-age-james-baldwin-was-watch_482785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/raoul-peck-8162_age_from-a-young-age-james-baldwin-was-watch_482785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“From a young age, [James Baldwin] was watching all those different films. 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He would not have that much room.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raoul Peck" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-like-james-baldwin-are-possible/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/raoul-peck-8162_people_today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-lik_848440.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/raoul-peck-8162_people_today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-lik_848440.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/raoul-peck-8162_people_today-i-don-t-even-think-that-people-lik_848440.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Today, I don't even think that people like [James Baldwin] are possible. 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