Being and becoming: A psychobiography of James Baldwin.

Introduction: James Baldwin (1924-1987) was a prolific African American author and activist whose writing centered primarily on race, sexuality, and religion. Baldwin's lived experiences and breadth of knowledge provided him with a unique perspective of the Black experience in America, a theme he frequently revisited in his work and the impetus for his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement METHOD: This article presents a psychobiographical application of Queering Black Racial Identity Development to conceptualize the life story of James Baldwin.

Results: This study explores the life of James Baldwin, highlights his influence as a historical figure and agent of social change, and explores the "why" of his life and behavior.