Sep. 25, 1971: 447

‘Black and White’, Simon Raven

Simon Raven review of Baldwin and Margaret Mead’s A Rap on Race. Raven dismisses Baldwin as “gimmicking up the whole race problem.”

‘As a contrast with the Professor’s calm good sense, here is James Baldwin gimmicking up the whole race problem in a text printed straight from a tape-recording (‘Rap’) which he made with Margaret Mead. Talking off the top of his head, Mr Baldwin accuses, rages, distorts, demands, and forever interrupts the patient Dr Mead in the middle of her conscientious and polymath observations. On and on Mr Baldwin goes, hopelessly confusing confusion, until even Dr Mead loses he angelic temper.’