Final answer:
The gay African-American author known for 'The Fire Next Time' and 'Sonny's Blues' is James Baldwin, a key figure in American literature and the Civil Rights movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gay African-American author known for works such as “The Fire Next Time” and “Sonny’s Blues” is James Baldwin. James Baldwin's contributions to literature go beyond fiction and delve into deep societal and cultural issues, cementing his place as an iconic writer and an important figure in the American Civil Rights movement. His essays and novels tackle the complexities of identity, race, and sexuality, offering a poignant exploration of his experiences and those of the black community. “The Fire Next Time”, published in 1963, is a powerful collection of essays that explore the racial division in the United States and critique the nation's inability to overcome it. In “Sonny’s Blues”, Baldwin examines the intricate dynamics between two brothers and the impacts of suffering and artistic expression in the context of the African-American experience.