Final answer:
James Baldwin's works are important for us to read in 2020 because of his literary contributions and his role as a civil rights advocate. Baldwin's novels and essays explore racism, the African-American community, and themes of identity and sexuality. His powerful writing continues to resonate and spark important conversations about social issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Baldwin's works are important for us to read in 2020 because of his literary contributions and his role as a civil rights advocate. Baldwin's novels and essays explore racism, the African-American community, and themes of identity and sexuality. He was a moral witness to prejudice and inhumanity, and his writing continues to resonate and spark important conversations about social issues.
Baldwin's first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, is a semi-autobiographical work that examines the struggles of a young African-American man questioning his religious upbringing and grappling with his own sexuality. His essay collection Notes of a Native Son is a powerful exploration of race and identity.
Additionally, Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room broke new ground by depicting a gay relationship with depth and nuance, challenging stereotypes. Baldwin's fearless exploration of these topics helps us understand and confront issues of racism, homophobia, and discrimination today.