On Wednesday 17th December 2025, from 7.30-9.30pm, Stroud Radical Reading Group will host a discussion of Encounters with James Baldwin - a collection celebrating the centenary of his birth. It's a wide-ranging volume of short essays, reflections and poetry, demonstrating the significant legacy of the writer and activist from his work during the era of the Black Civil Rights movement in the US, and after. We will meet at Redz Youth Hub, 6 Threadneedle St, GL5 1AF. Entry is free and anyone interested in the book is welcome - you don't need to have read it to join us. See below for more information. At this event we'll be celebrating 10 years of Stroud Radical Reading Group, so people are encouraged to stay after the discussion for a social where we'll make plans for 2026 and share memories from the last year and, indeed, last decade.
In the literary anthology Encounters With James Baldwin, over 30 contributors reveal the influence of Baldwin’s thought, speech and writing to their personal journeys and their awareness of the need for social justice. Local resident Ronnie McGrath will introduce the book and his essay "What’s Love Got to Do with It?"
Entry to the reading group session is free and everyone is welcome - you do not need to have attended previous sessions, and we do our best to make the sessions welcoming to people who have not been to reading groups or similar settings like university seminars before. We encourage people to read as much of the book as possible, but you are welcome to attend to listen to the discussion without reading any of it.
On our website, you can find a link to buy the book at a discount, and free audio/visual resources. There is also more information about the book and Stroud Radical Reading Group events:
https://stroudradicalreading.com/2025/12/03/17dec25/
Also check out other Arts events in Stroud, Literary Art events in Stroud, Workshops in Stroud.
