Throughout his life Baldwin never married nor did he father any children. Instead, he used his time to write and become a prominent activist of his generation and for those that followed. He became a tireless public speaker and integrated his experiences into his novels (Werlock). Speaking for a sexual minority within a racial minority, Baldwin’s goal was equality for Americans of all colors and sexualities. He was “society’s outcast three-times over” (Verde). As an activist, Baldwin preached equality, possessing the “fervor of a preacher” (Bloom “James”, 482) when he spoke to crowds, an ability that would allow him to rise in authority and importance throughout his life. He also lectured at colleges in his attempt to spread his message to
