August 2, 2024 would have been James Baldwin’s 100th birthday. Inspirational author, cultural critic, and civil rights activist, Baldwin authored seven novels, and countless short stories and essays. I read several this month in honor of his birthday, and expect to read several more in August, as many organizations and institutions celebrate his work and legacy all month (and all year) long. I find Baldwin’s words as relevant today as they were when written, and they made wonderful companion reads to contemporary works by Tamara J. Walker, Rita Roberts, Kelly Carter Jackson, David Wright Faladé, and Farah Karim-Cooper.