The Enduring Power of James Baldwin: Author, Activist, Visionary w/Prof. Greg Garrett

Dr. Greg Garrett, a professor, theologian, author, and cultural observer, discusses the life and work of James Baldwin. He shares his personal journey and the influence of storytelling and personal experiences on his work. Dr. Garrett explores Baldwin's education, faith journey, and his role as a prophetic witness. He highlights the importance of understanding Baldwin's humanity and the impact of his writings on American literature and culture. Dr. Garrett also discusses Baylor University's approach to difficult conversations and the potential of Baldwin's unfinished play. He emphasizes the power of movies in promoting racial reconciliation and the need to analyze films while celebrating progress. Finally, Dr. Garrett addresses the importance of understanding and engaging with Black lives. In this conversation, Greg Garrett discusses the role of white people in racial reconciliation and allyship. He shares a conversation he had with Kelly Brown Douglas, where she challenged the idea of being an ally and emphasized the need for white people to go into white spaces and talk honestly about racism. Greg also highlights the importance of understanding and loving people who are different from us. He hopes that his book, 'The Gospel according to James Baldwin,' will inspire readers to lean into big questions and love big, even in difficult times.

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Guest Bio:

Dr. Greg Garrett is a professional writer who teaches creative writing, film, literature, and theology classes at Baylor University. He is the author of over twenty books of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and translation, including the critically-acclaimed novels Free Bird, Cycling, Shame, and The Prodigal.

Dr. Garrett is best-known as one of America's leading voices on religion and culture (BBC Radio), and he has written nonfiction books including The Gospel According to Hollywood, Stories from the Edge: A Theology of Grief, and One Fine Potion: The Literary Magic of Harry Potter (named a 2011 Best Theological Book by the Association of Theological Booksellers). His most recent nonfiction books are Living with the Living Dead: The Wisdom of the Zombie Apocalypse (Oxford University Press, 2017), Crossing Myself: A Story of Spiritual Rebirth (Morehouse, 2016), and Entertaining Judgment:

The Afterlife in Literature and Culture (Oxford University Press, 2015). His books have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, and Czech editions. He has also written hundreds of articles and essays for publications including Salon, Washington Post, Huffington Post, The Tablet, Patheos, Christianity Today, OnFaith, The Daily Mirror, and many other print and web publications.

Dr. Garrett often represents Baylor as a speaker, teacher, and workshop leader, with appearances at Villanova University, Google UK, Washington National Cathedral, the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, the American Library in Paris, Cambridge University, Blackwells Bookstore in Oxford, the Edinburgh Festival of Books, and Gladstone's Library in Wales.

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