James Baldwin, If Beale Streets Could Talk, Wolters-Noordhoff, 1995. First published in 1995. Number of pages: 143.

The reason why I chose this book is because I heard about it. I have never heard the name Baldwin before but I saw this book and I read it.

Plot:
The main character Tish lives in Harlem, New York, in an area where many negroes live. She falls in love with Fonny, who lives in her neighborhood (they are both black persons). She remembers him from the time they were in the same school. His father (Frank) is a kind man, she meets him regularly in the shop, but his mother (Mrs Alice Hunt) is not very friendly and so are his sisters. Right in the beginning of the story Fonny is in jail, because someone charged him for a rape, which isn't true. Tish is pregnant while Fonny is still in jail, so they want to get married. When Tish's parents tell Fonny's parents that Tish is going to marry Fonny, Mrs Hunt is not very happy and even angry.
Before Fonny was in jail they have looked for a place where they could live together, but that was very hard to find (because of racism against black persons). When they finally found one, Fonny had to go in jail. A policeman (Mr Bell) who is famous for his lies (he's a racist) charges him for a rape. Tish remembers many moments from the time Fonny was a free man. He is actually innocent and he even has an alibi. It's very difficult to get Fonny out of jail. Tish's parents take a lawyer (Mr Hayward), but this case is very hard for him. Suddenly Mrs Rogers (she's the woman who was raped) disappears, so they have to find her. That's very expensive for the parents of Tish, so they have to take extra jobs and have to steal. When the mother of Tish finds Mrs Rogers (in Puerto Rico), she doesn't want to change her witness. She only becomes a prostration, that makes sure Fonny is allowed to go on bail (but that costs a lot of money). In the end of this novel the baby is finally born.


What’s the climax of the story?
Does Fonny get out of jail? The author wrote a lot about Fonny and the jail. And the problems Fonny and Tish get. We don't even know if they will win the trial. You must read further.

What is the meaning of the title?
Beale Street is the street where Tish (and Fonny) grew up. "If Beale Street Could Talk" means that the world would be better if there wasn't discrimination against black people.

Characters:
Tish (Clementine Rivers): She's a black girl who lives in Harlem (many black people live there). She's 19 years old, and she works at a perfume counter. She's the main character in this book and also the one who tells the story. She wants to marry Fonny. She knows Fonny well, because they used to be good friends when they were kids. She thinks the people in this world aren't good nor honest, that's why Fonny is in jail.
Fonny (Alonzo Hunt): He's a black person too. He is a boy of twenty-two years old. He's a cook and he's also a sculptor. He is a main character in this book, because he's the father of the baby Tish is going to have. They are planning to get married, his parents don't like this.
Frank: This is Fonny's father. He likes Tish but his wife doesn’t, he’s very upset from it. He wants to see Fonny happy.
Mrs Alice Hunt: Fonny's mother. Alice doesn’t like Tish at all. She finds Tish a good punishment for Fonny, because she thinks Tish is not good enough for Fonny.
Mr Bell: A policemen who’s famous for his lies. He's a racist. He charges Fonny for a rape.
Mrs Rogers: The woman who was “raped.”
Mr Hayward: He is the Lawyer Tish's parents hired.


Theme.
The racism against negroes is a theme in this book. But more important is the question if black people have to accept the racism or have to battle against it. I think that James tries to explain what racism can do to people. Racism isn’t good. So stop it!!

The author.
BALDWIN, James (1924-1987) An American novelist, essayist, and playwright, James Baldwin wrote with eloquence and passion on the subject of race in America. His main message was that blacks deserve to be treated like humans and that the civil rights problem derives from the insecurity of the white man, who needs a "Negro" to whom he can feel superior.
James Arthur Baldwin (he was black and homosexual.) was born on Aug. 2, 1924, in the Harlem section of New York City, to David and Berdis Jones Baldwin. His father, a Sunday minister, was very strict with his nine children, of whom James was the oldest. Teachers remembered James as a slight, intelligent, sad-looking boy. After graduating from high school in 1942, he worked at various jobs. A literary fellowship in 1948 enabled him to go to Europe, where he lived mostly in France. 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' (1953), an autobiographical novel, helped establish him as a writer.

Personal experience.
The scene, when the mother of Tish finds Mrs Rogers in Puerto Rico, strikes me most vividly. Fonny and Tish are doing so many to get out of there problems and Mrs Rogers doesn’t do anything about it.
Person that reminds me of anyone I know: Fonny»Daniel. Because they are black and they both know what racism is.
Myself: Frank, because I don’t understand why the mother of Fonny don’t like Tish.
One example of an event/ occasion in the story that reminds me of any time in my life: Fonny get’s unjust in jail. I know such things that happened that way.

My opinion.
When I first saw the cover, I thought it was about a boy who falls in love with a girl. In fact, it was about a girl who falls in love with a boy.
The book was difficult at times because Baldwin uses difficult words.