Truth Teller #8, James Baldwin

Truth Tellers #8, James Baldwin, critic, novelist, essayist, expatriate who rose from an impoverished childhood to become one of America’s great writers. On being poor, black and homosexual “I thought I’d hit the Jackpot. It was so outrageous , you had to find a way to use it.

Starting a New Series Celebrating Truth Tellers

Truth is coercive. We acknowledge this with phrases like “I have to say” or “I must admit.” The truth can also be uncomfortable or downright onerous, those who speak it can become outcasts. Mark Twain wrote only dead men can tell the whole truth in this world. But in a time way too many of our bullshit detectors seem to be malfunctioning, we need truth tellers urgently. So I am starting a series of portraits celebrating truth tellers. This is, I must admit, partly because I am sick of drawing liars. It is my pleasure to introduce Truth Teller #1, Mark Twain