The Fire Next Time
By James Baldwin
"A national bestseller when it first appeared in 1963, The Fire Next Time galvanized the nation and gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement. At once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin’s early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document. " - Goodreads
Why was this book challenged?
Banned book element tile
Reasons: Racial Content
Melville House has noted how Baldwin's The Fire Next Time “was deemed inappropriate for students" and “would violate HB 2281, a 2010 Arizona law that makes it illegal to 'advocate ethnic solidarity.'"
Black-authored books have historically been targets for censorship, and modern-day censorship efforts are targeting them as well. For more information, please see out Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Ways to read this book at STCC!
Members of the STCC community have full borrowing privileges at the STCC Library, located in Building 19, 2nd Floor, provided they are actively registered in the college system and their records are in good standing.
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Username: STCC ID number
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Additional Resources and Accessibility
If you prefer to listen to your books, or if the print or eBook versions of this book are checked out at STCC, you have additional checkout options through Massachusetts public libraries. CW/MARS and Boston Public Library eCards will give you access to eBook and Audiobook versions of this book. You can also download the Libby app to listen to audiobooks on your smartphone. These resources are outside of STCC Library, please consult your local public library for any questions regarding these outside resources.
Check public libraries in Western Massachusetts via CW/MARS:
Residents of Massachusetts can sign up for a Boston Public Library eCard, to access their digital materials such as eBooks and downloadable audiobooks. Follow the instructions on the BPL's website: