C. L. R. James facts for kids

Quick facts for kids C. L. R. James
Born	Cyril Lionel Robert James (1901-01-04)4 January 1901 Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago
Died	31 May 1989(1989-05-31) (aged 88) Brixton, London, England
Nationality	Trinidadian
Other names	J. R. Johnson
Occupation	Historian, writer, socialist
Notable work	The Black Jacobins Beyond a Boundary Minty Alley Toussaint Louverture - The story of the only successful slave revolt in history World Revolution
Spouse(s)	Juanita Young ​ ​ (m. 1929; div. 1932)​ Constance Webb ​ ​ (m. 1946; div. 1953)​ Selma Weinstein ​ ​ (m. 1955; div. 1980)​
Children	1

Cyril Lionel Robert James (born January 4, 1901 – died May 31, 1989) was a famous writer, historian, and activist from Trinidad and Tobago. He sometimes used the pen-name J. R. Johnson. His ideas have been very important in understanding history, society, and how different cultures connect.

James was a strong voice for Marxism, which is a way of looking at society and economics. He also helped shape postcolonial literature, which explores the effects of colonialism. He was a very active political person. In 1937, he wrote World Revolution, a book about the history of the Communist International. In 1938, he wrote The Black Jacobins, which tells the story of the Haitian Revolution.

People saw James as a deep thinker. He taught himself many things. He also wrote plays and stories. His 1936 book Minty Alley was the first novel by a black West Indian writer to be published in Britain. James loved sports and was famous for writing about cricket. His 1963 book Beyond a Boundary is often called the best book ever written about cricket, and even about sports in general.

About C. L. R. James

Early Life in Trinidad

C. L. R. James was born in Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago, which was a British colony at the time. His father was a schoolteacher. In 1910, James won a scholarship to Queen's Royal College (QRC) in Port of Spain. This was the oldest non-Catholic secondary school on the island.

At QRC, he played cricket and was a great athlete. He even held the Trinidad high-jump record for several years. He also started writing stories there. After finishing school in 1918, he taught English and History at QRC in the 1920s. One of his students was Eric Williams, who later became the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. James was part of a group of writers called the "Beacon Group." They wrote for The Beacon magazine and spoke out against colonial rule.

Moving to Britain

In 1932, James moved to Nelson, England. His friend, the West Indian cricketer Learie Constantine, invited him to help write his autobiography, Cricket and I. This book was published in 1933. James also brought a manuscript for his own non-fiction book, which was published in 1932 with help from Constantine.

While in England, James worked as a cricket reporter for Manchester Guardian. In 1933, he moved to London. He joined a group that discussed ideas about social change.

James had already started working for the independence of the West Indies while in Trinidad. In 1933, a shorter version of his book about Captain Cipriani was published as a pamphlet called The Case for West-Indian Self Government. He became a strong supporter of Pan-Africanism, which is the idea of unity for all African people and those of African descent. In 1935, he became the head of the International African Friends of Ethiopia (IAFE). This group was formed when Italian fascist forces invaded Ethiopia. Important members included Amy Ashwood Garvey and Jomo Kenyatta.

In 1937, the IAFE became the International African Service Bureau. James edited its newsletter, Africa and the World, and its journal, International African Opinion. His childhood friend George Padmore led the Bureau. Both James and Padmore wrote for the New Leader newspaper.

In 1934, James wrote a play about the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture. The play was performed in London in 1936 and starred Paul Robeson. The original play was thought to be lost until a copy was found in 2005. In 1967, James wrote another play about the Haitian Revolution, also called The Black Jacobins. This play was the first one produced by the Talawa Theatre Company in 1986. Also in 1936, his novel Minty Alley was published in London. It was the first novel by a black Caribbean author to be published in the UK.

During this busy time, James wrote two of his most famous non-fiction books: World Revolution (1937) and The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution (1938). World Revolution was a history of the Communist International. The Black Jacobins was a highly praised history of the Haitian Revolution. It became a very important book for studying the history of people of African descent around the world. James went to Paris to research this book.

Visiting the United States

In October 1938, James was invited to tour the United States. He gave talks to help a political group called the Socialist Workers' Party connect with black workers. He gave many lectures in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. He spoke about topics such as "Twilight of the British Empire" and "The Negro and World Imperialism."

Constance Webb, who later became James's second wife, heard him speak in Los Angeles in 1939. She said he was a master of the English language, like Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Meeting Leon Trotsky

In April 1939, James visited Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico. James stayed for about a month and also met famous artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. He returned to the United States in May 1939. James and Trotsky talked a lot about the "Negro Question," which meant the struggles of black people. Trotsky thought his party should lead the black community. But James believed that African Americans fighting for themselves would start a much bigger social movement.

Work in the U.S.

James stayed in the United States until 1953, when he had to leave. During this time, he continued his political work. He questioned some of Trotsky's ideas about the Soviet Union. He joined different groups that worked for social change and focused more on the liberation movements of oppressed people. He believed that black liberation struggles were very important.

After World War II, James and his colleagues focused on the possibility of revolutionary change for oppressed people. James believed that socialists should support the growing black nationalist movements. By 1949, he changed his mind about the idea of a "vanguard party," which is a small group that leads a revolution.

In 1955, after James had left for Britain, some members of his group formed a new one called News and Letters Committees. The group split again in 1962, with some members leaving to focus on a "Third Worldist" approach. James continued to advise the remaining group from Great Britain.

James's writings also influenced a way of thinking called Autonomist Marxism. He saw his life's work as developing the ideas of Leninism, which is based on the ideas of Vladimir Lenin.

Returning to Britain

In 1953, James had to leave the US because he had stayed longer than his visa allowed. While he was being held at Ellis Island, he wrote a book about Herman Melville called Mariners, Renegades and Castaways. He sent copies to every member of the Senate, hoping to stay in America. He wrote that the book, especially about Moby Dick, was a way to talk about the political challenges in the United States.

When he returned to Britain, his friends noticed he was trying to find his way after being away for 15 years. He started reporting on cricket for Manchester Guardian.

In 1957, James went to Ghana to celebrate its independence from British rule. He had met Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's new leader, when Nkrumah was studying in the United States. James invited his colleague Grace Lee Boggs to help him write a book about Nkrumah and the Convention People's Party. The book, Nkrumah and the Ghana Revolution, was not published until 1977.

Back in Trinidad and Later Years

In 1958, James went back to Trinidad. He edited The Nation newspaper for the People's National Movement (PNM) party, which wanted independence. He also became active again in the Pan-African movement. He believed that Ghana's revolution greatly encouraged other countries to fight for their freedom from colonial rule.

James also supported the idea of a West Indies Federation, which would unite the Caribbean islands. He disagreed with the PNM leaders on this issue. He then returned to Great Britain. In 1968, he was invited to the US, where he taught at the University of the District of Columbia.

He spent his last years in Brixton, London. In the 1980s, he received an honorary doctorate from London South Bank University for his important work on society, politics, race, and sports.

C. L. R. James died in London on May 19, 1989, at age 88. His funeral was held in Trinidad on June 12, where he was buried in Tunapuna. A special memorial service was held for him in Port of Spain on June 28, 1989.

Family Life

James married his first wife, Juanita Young, in Trinidad in 1929. They separated when he moved to Britain. He met his second wife, Constance Webb, an American model and writer, after moving to the US in 1938. They married in 1946, and their son, C. L. R. James Jr. (called Nobbie), was born in 1949. They divorced in 1953 when James was deported to Britain. A collection of James's letters to Webb was published after his death. Stories he wrote for his son were published in 2006 as The Nobbie Stories for Children and Adults.

In 1956, James married Selma Weinstein. They were close political colleagues for over 25 years but divorced in 1980. She is known for starting the International Wages for Housework Campaign.

His Legacy and Recognition

• In the 1970s and 1980s, several of James's books were published by Allison & Busby. These included collections of his writings like The Future In the Present (1977) and Spheres of Existence (1980).
• In 1976, a film about James called Beyond a Boundary was made for the BBC. Another film, C. L. R. James in Conversation with Stuart Hall, was made in 1984.
• In 1983, a film called Talking History featured James talking with historian E. P. Thompson. A company also filmed a series of six of James's lectures, which were shown on television.
• The C. L. R. James Institute was founded in 1983 in New York with James's approval.
• A public library in London Borough of Hackney is named in his honor. In 2010, there were plans to change the library's name, but after protests, the council decided to keep the name. The new Dalston C. L. R. James Library opened in 2012. It has a permanent exhibition about his life.
• In 1986, the Talawa Theatre Company produced James's play The Black Jacobins.
• In 1996, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a shortened version of Beyond a Boundary, read by Trevor McDonald.
• In 1998, a radio play of Minty Alley was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and won an award.
• In 2004, English Heritage placed a Blue Plaque at 165 Railton Road, Brixton, where James lived and died. The plaque says: "C. L. R. JAMES 1901–1989 West Indian Writer and Political Activist lived and died here."
• A conference was held in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Beyond a Boundary.
• In 2016, a documentary film called Every Cook Can Govern: Documenting the life, impact & works of CLR James was made about him.

Writings on Cricket

James is widely known for his writings on cricket. His 1963 book, Beyond a Boundary, is especially famous. He described it as "neither cricket reminiscences nor autobiography." It is considered a very important book about the game. Many people call it the best book ever written about cricket, or even about any sport.

The book asks a key question: "What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?" James uses this question to show how cricket is connected to history and society. He explains how cricket influenced his life and how it related to his political ideas and his understanding of class and race. The book's excellent writing style attracts cricket fans of all backgrounds.

When he was editor of The Nation newspaper, James led a successful campaign in 1960. This campaign helped Frank Worrell become the first black captain of the West Indies cricket team. James believed that the strong connection between players and the public helped the West Indies achieve so much with limited resources.

Images for kids

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  C.L.R. James in 1938

See also

In Spanish: CLR James para niños