112 pages • 3 hours read
Jesmyn WardThe Fire This Time
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read 
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Summary
“The Tradition” by Jericho Brown
Introduction by Jesmyn Ward
“Homegoing, AD” by Kima Jones
“The Weight” by Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah
“Lonely in America” by Wendy S. Walters
“Where Do We Go from Here?” by Isabel Wilkerson
“‘The Dear Pledges of Our Love’: A Defense of Phillis Wheatley’s Husband” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
“White Rage” by Carol Anderson
“Cracking the Code” by Jesmyn Ward
“Queries of Unrest” by Clint Smith
“Blacker Than Thou” by Kevin Young
“Da Art of Storytellin’ (a Prequel)” by Kiese Laymon
“Black and Blue” by Garnette Cadogan
“The Condition of Black Life Is One of Mourning” by Claudia Rankine
“Know Your Rights!” by Emily Raboteau
“Composite Pops” by Mitchell S. Jackson
“Theories of Time and Space” by Natasha Trethewey
“This Far: Notes on Love and Revolution” by Daniel José Older
“Message to My Daughters” by Edwidge Danticat
Key Figures
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
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Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Fire This Time, edited by Jesmyn Ward, is a contemporary anthology of writing and poetry responding to America's turbulent racial climate, inspired by James Baldwin's works. The book is divided into three parts: "Legacy," "Reckoning," and "Jubilee," covering themes of historical insight, contemporary challenges, and future aspirations. The collection includes 14 essays and four poems, addressing topics such as slavery, racial violence, personal reflection, and hopes for a better future. The anthology provides varied voices to illustrate the current moment and imagine a possible future. Sensitive topics addressed include racially motivated violence and racial profiling.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Fire This Time edited by Jesmyn Ward is lauded for its powerful essays on race in America. Critics appreciate its contemporary relevance and diverse voices, though some feel the essays are uneven in impact. Overall, it is seen as a crucial and thought-provoking collection that continues the conversation started by James Baldwin.
Who Should Read The Fire This Time?
A reader who would enjoy The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward is likely passionate about contemporary social justice issues, particularly around race in America. They may have appreciated Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates or The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, seeking reflective, poignant essays on racial identity and history.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
1230LBook Details
Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Black Lives Matter
Race / Racism
History: World
Creative Nonfiction