Published in 1953, Go Tell It on the Mountain was the first work of African-American writer and critic James Baldwin. The semi-autobiographical novel, which launched his career, tells the story of John Grimes, a teenager living in 1930s Harlem. The stepson to an abusive, religious fanatic, John experiences a spiritual and sexual awakening that conflicts with the morals of the Pentecostal church, his family, and the black community. While the novel sheds light on Baldwin's childhood, it also examines racial stereotypes, sexual identity, as well as the negative and positive aspects of the relationship between the church and African Americans during the early 20th century.
