A Birthday Bash To Celebrate A Century Of James Baldwin

James Baldwin(Mark Gerson / National Portrait Gallery)James Baldwin was born in New York City a hundred years ago this Friday.The African-American author and activist - who died in 1987 - stirred public consciousness through his words, written and spoken, across the latter half of the last century.On Friday, the Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts and Ideas will host a James Baldwin 100th Birthday Bash - starting at 4:30 PM at the downtown Chattanooga Public Library - ahead of its James Baldwin Festival of Words in late August.(Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts and Ideas)Ric Morris is CEO of the Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts and Ideas.Marsha Davis is director of the James Baldwin Festival of Words.(Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts and Ideas)