Upon the threshing floor, lies young John. The congregation is now standing, surrounding John. His father, Gabriel, is watching on with a stern look of consternation. John has surrendered to God and has been saved. The congregation now begins to rejoice as John finally awakes from his journey. They sing and flock him. John is no stranger now. He has been saved.
In James Baldwin’s “Go Tell It On the Mountain”, John Grimes is but an average 14-year-old living in nineteenth century Harlem. His family reveals a rather shameful history that his father, a pastor, has kept from the church. Unbeknownst to John, Gabriel is not his blood-related father. John is the son of his mother and her first love. Gabriel, a man one might call a puritan, sees John as proof of the family’s shame and refuses to acknowledge him. Baldwin’s novel follows the lives of the Grimes, unveiling the hypocrisy and shame that has found its way into the rudimentary stitches of the family.
Similar to the abuse Baldwin had undergone as a young boy, John is emotionally scarred by Gabriel’s coldness towards him. Gabriel’s wrath keeps the boy from attending church, as John comes to believe that surrendering to God would be the act of surrendering to his father. The fury and hatred Gabriel represents, becomes the image of the church itself.
Through young John, James Baldwin provides an explanation as to why he was initially unable to accept the church before he underwent a religious awakening at the age of 14. Baldwin’s ability to make progress despite his demanding and abusive stepfather is clearly reflected in the eventual serenity John reaches at the conclusion of the novel.
John’s road to the threshing floor is one that is paved with struggles and ambivalence. He is eventually able to take his disappointments in his father and struggles with sin to the floor and repents.
Additionally, the racism and hardship faced by blacks in the nineteenth century and its influence on both the African faith and church is examined by Baldwin. The concluding scene clearly defines John’s growth throughout the story and the confidence that has been instilled in him.
John’s revival certainly coincides with Baldwin’s nostalgic yet contemporary excitement in receiving God. Although James Baldwin’s actual awakening had happened several years ago, he seems to undergo yet another renewal while recounting his years as a 14-year-old in his novel.
Aileen Seo has been a part of JSR since 2012 and is a third-time editor. Aileen likes all things Red and quirky. Her favorite authors are Truman Capote and JD Salinger, who are ironically enough two very different characters. Summer Finn and Regina George are just two of her closest friends (or so she wishes). She is excited to take part in another semester of JSR and hopes to make it the best one yet.
