What impact do you believe Bill Miller had on Baldwin’s life? Is there someone who you can name that had a similar impact on your own?
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I am a teacher. I absolutely hope that I have an influence on my students as Bill had on hers.
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It seems like Bill saw something remarkable and took the young James under her wing. I’m curious, @Margaret_S, how often do you find a pupil that really stands out? Do you treat them differently at all?
As I was reading those sections I wondered if the type of relationship the two had would even be possible today.
Bill Miller seemed to tap into and build on something Baldwin loved, that perhaps he would not have otherwise been exposed to by his parents. His mom seemed like a loving mom, but I was left thinking Baldwin’s dad was a bit cruel and not very insightful
the dad’s comments about Baldwin’s frog-eyes and ugliness. Bill Miller helped Baldwin escape from the daily cares of the world and experience literature, art and culture. I doubt his dad would had insight into the plays and movies that Baldwin saw.
I had an aunt that was always up for an adventure, wanting to museums, the theatre, etc. She was instrumental in helping me see that there was so much more to the world than the little town my parents lived in.
I think Bill Miller opened Baldwin’s mind to the larger world and the possibilities of language. I have often wondered what happens to those children who are geniuses but raised without much if any cultural stimulation. But she also was a friend, and a white friend, and I think that also enlarged his world, perhaps softened a tiny bit his feelings about privilege and whiteness.
I couldn’t help thinking about the impact Bill had on Baldwin’s life. Had she not guided him through these mostly “white” cultural interpretations on film would he have developed into the writer he became? Would he have viewed his identity and place in the world differently? I am grateful for the influence Bill provided and hope there are others like her who are introducing children of all races to experinces beyond those offered in the child’s immediate community.
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I believe that every kid I ever had in school could do s something I could not do and part of my job was to find and identify that THING. It happened a few times.
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