James Baldwin on Socialism: A Thread Derived from a 1972 Interview Featured in “Conversations with James Baldwin” (1989) 
Walker: "Most newly independent countries in the world are moving in a socialist direction. Do you think socialism will ever come to the U.S.A.?”
Baldwin: “I would think so. I don't see any other way for it to go. But then you have to be very careful what you mean by socialism.”
Baldwin: “I would think so. I don't see any other way for it to go. But then you have to be very careful what you mean by socialism.”
Baldwin: “When I use the word I'm not thinking about Lenin, for example... Bobby Seale (@BobbySealecom) talks about a Yankee Doodle-type socialism. I know what he means when he says that.
It is a socialism created from the indigenous need of the people in the place.”
It is a socialism created from the indigenous need of the people in the place.”
Walker: “What unique form do you envision socialism in the U.S.A. taking?”
Baldwin: “I don't know, but the price of any real socialism here is the eradication of what we call the race problem...”
Baldwin: “I don't know, but the price of any real socialism here is the eradication of what we call the race problem...”
Baldwin: “Racism is crucial to the system to keep Black[s] and whites at a division so both were and are a source of cheap labor."
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