Final answer:
James Baldwin revisited themes from his time as a child evangelist in his works, even after leaving the church. He infused spiritual, blues, and gospel rhythms into his writing, which often tackled issues of racism, sexuality, and identity, and reflected the intertwining of religious and social concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Baldwin, after serving a brief time as a child evangelist and in a storefront church in Harlem, continuously revisited the themes from this period throughout his life and work.
Despite leaving the church and renouncing Christianity, Baldwin's writing remained infused with the spirituality and rhythms of the religious music he grew up with, such as the spirituals, blues, and gospel. His involvement with the Civil Rights movement, as evidenced by his collaboration with the Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and figures like Martin Luther King Jr., further underscores the influence of his early experiences on his later work. Baldwin's literary works often grapple with complex social issues such as racism, sexuality, and personal identity.
His novels, like Go Tell It on the Mountain and Giovanni's Room, and essays, like Notes of a Native Son, echo his early religious experiences both in thematic content and narrative style, reflecting a deep-seated intersection of the sacred and social in his worldview.