Notes of a Native Son | Author Biography

James Baldwin was born in Harlem in New York City on August 2, 1924. In his ‘‘Autobiographical Notes’’ in Notes of a Native Son, Baldwin refers to his mother, Emma Berdis Jones, as ‘‘given to the exasperating and mysterious habit of having babies,’’ for whom Baldwin, as the oldest child, was often called upon to be their main caretaker. Baldwin critiques his role as babysitter, stating that his siblings ‘‘probably suffered’’ due to the fact that he cared for them with ‘‘one hand and held a book with the other.’’ Baldwin’s stepfather, David, was a...

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