This seminal work by James Baldwin combines personal memoir with a piercing critique of American race relations during the burgeoning civil rights era. Through a series of letters and essays, the author reflects on his upbringing in Harlem, his early experiences as a teenaged minister, and his eventual disillusionment with the church. He examines the moral failures of Christianity and the rise of the Nation of Islam, detailing a tense meeting with its leader, Elijah Muhammad. Ultimately, the text serves as a dire warning that the country must undergo a profound spiritual and social transformation to avoid a catastrophic reckoning. Baldwin argues that unconditional freedom for Black citizens is the only path to national maturity and the survival of the American dream. This edition also provides a comprehensive catalog of literary peers and classic titles published under the same imprint.