“Notes on a Native Son” is a new, six-part audio series about how and why the writer James Baldwin continues to matter. We hear from people who turn to his words again and again for ideas and inspiration.

In the debut episode, host Razia Iqbal sits down with essayist and novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates to discuss one of his favorite passages from the works of writer James Baldwin. His choice comes from Baldwin’s essay “On Being ‘White’…And Other Lies,” published in Essence Magazine in 1984. Coates shares why this piece resonates with him as a writer tackling whiteness, race and what it means to be an American today.

Coates is the author of the bestselling books “Between the World and Me” and “The Water Dancer.” His latest book, “The Message,” (published October 2024) documents the time he spent in Palestine, Senegal and South Carolina — and details why the stories we do and don’t tell from areas of conflict matter.

Hosted by journalist Razia Iqbal, each episode explores a Baldwin passage chosen and beloved by her guests. Their conversations underline Baldwin's lasting power and remind us of his prescience and acuity on issues such as race, class, sexuality, power, belonging and love.

New episodes of "Notes on a Native Son" are available on-demand every Saturday in the Notes from America podcast feed: https://bit.ly/3C4TLEx

This project was made possible through partnership between Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, Sea Salt & Mango Productions and WNYC Studios.

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Notes from America with Kai Wright is a live public radio show and podcast from WNYC about the unfinished business of our history and how we break its grip on our future. It airs every Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on WNYC, on-air across the country, online at wnyc.org, and available wherever you get your podcasts.

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