Cool Is Not Enough: James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk  and the Concept of Cool 

William Lawlor, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, will present a theory of the cool, with particular reference to language, style, and culture. 

To illustrate the theory, Lawlor will examine James Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street Could Talk (1974). Baldwin’s novel is about the struggle of an African American family to free a young Black sculptor unjustly imprisoned on a rape charge. James Baldwin (1924-1987) is a distinguished author, intellectual, and activist. Among his many writings, one may recall Go Tell It on the Mountain, The Fire Next Time, and Blues for Mr. Charlie. In 2025, scholars continue to observe the Baldwin centenary. 

Speaker BIO: At the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, William Lawlor taught various classes on Baldwin for English majors and graduate students. Lawlor’s interest in the cool is connected to his study of the Beat Generation, which is revealed in his book Beat Culture: Lifestyles, Icons, and Impact (2005). Lawlor’s presentation for CREATE reprises a lecture he gave at Morgan State University for a conference honoring Baldwin in October 2024.