Standing with spirit of James Baldwin on hallowed ground
The centennial of James Baldwin’s birth—he was born on August 2, 1924, in Harlem—was celebrated around the globe this week, and there are even more plans to extend his legacy for the rest of the year. The Literary Society of Harlem conducted perhaps one of the smallest, although not the least lacking in passion and remembrance, at the artist’s gravesite in Hartsdale, N.Y. Baldwin died at his home in southern France, but his funeral services were held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Harlem’s living griot and tireless advocate for the community, Lana Turner, and the society assembled Saturday afternoon to share their memories of Baldwin. Holding hands and encircling the gravesite that Baldwin shares with his mother, Berdis, the 12 women took turns relaying their impressions of the writer and activist. Before presenting her reflections, Turner discussed several earlier activities hosted by the society, including tours of places where Baldwin lived before he left for France in 1948.
“James lived in several Harlem apartments in our community,” Turner began. “He lived with his family at 2171 Fifth Avenue, and most notably along Park Avenue above 126th Street.” The tours included schools Baldwin attended—P.S. 24 (now the Renaissance High School) and the Frederick Douglass Junior High School, where Baldwin was taught by poet Countee Cullen—and the Pentecostal Church, where Baldwin the boy preacher absorbed the hellfire and brimstone sermons.
At the cemetery, Turner also pointed out where other distinguished African Americans have their final resting places: Paul and Eslanda Robeson; Lawrence Brown, the pianist who often accompanied Robeson; Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee; Malcolm and Betty Shabazz; and jurist William Hastie. “We stand on hallowed ground,” more than one of the spectators said.
Among those assembled was Elaine Gamble, who later expressed her heartfelt feelings about it “as a lovely gathering and discussion.”
Ruth Cunningham used the occasion to share some of her history that Baldwin inspired when she was coming of age on 116th Street. Roberta Todd, one of the longstanding members of the society, offered comments on questions raised about Baldwin’s notion of poverty, its relativity, and how it affected the Harlem community.
There was a chorus of “Amens” from Sullivan Summer, Velma Cobb, Alexa Donaphin, Katrina Huffman, Elizabeth and Sharon Howard, Jacqueline Polite, Lisa Edmiston, Shirley and Tiffany Martinbrough, and several others who couldn’t attend, like Alicia Miller, who thanked Lana for “connecting my soul” to the event.
Thyra Henry, in an email, echoed the salute and praise for Lana Turner, saying, “I wish I could have participated in all of the events, but your reporting made me feel as though I was there.”
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