Research Paper on:
DeLillo, Baldwin, and Kushner Literature Examination

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
seeking identity. Such is the case in James Baldwins "The Fire Next Time." In this story the author begins the story by illustrating his relationship with the Christian faith, ultimately  arguing that it is a faith that belongs to those African Americans who wish to escape. His narration begins with an examination of how he saw Christianity when he was  a teenager, and then as an adult. He was clearly disappointed with his "Negro" religion and sought something else. In this examination, and this particular method of examination, Baldwin  is telling us about the religious power in the nation, of how that religion is often used by people for control and escape. It also tells us of the development  of the character for he is exploring and seeking answers. In many ways his first examination of the power of religion is symbolic of his first step into self discovery.  Then he examines the Muslim movement among the African American people. He attempts to understand this religion as it involves the African Americans, and thus see how it directly  relates to his development as well. He examines several different leaders and tells us, "I do not mean to be sentimental about suffering--enough is certainly as good as a feast--but  people who cannot suffer can never grow up, can never discover who they are. That man who is forced each day to snatch his manhood, his identity, out of the  fire of human cruelty that rages to destroy it knows, if he survives his effort, and even if he does not survive it, something about himself and human life that  no school on earth--and, indeed, no church--can teach" (Baldwin NA). In this, and in his examination of Christianity, we see the spiritual and humane evolution or development of one man.