Baldwin’s essay meditates on race and his place in the world as he spends time in a small Swiss village in which “from all available evidence no black man had ever set foot” (qtd in Cole 5; Baldwin 1). Some sixty years later, Cole retraces Baldwin’s steps and spends time in the same Swiss village, likewise meditating on his place as a Black man in the US and the world. However, while Cole understands, respects, and agrees with many of Baldwin’s positions, he argues that his own experiences and feelings in a variety of areas are not (entirely) the same. What are some of these differences? In other words, in what ways does Cole agree and/or disagree with Baldwin? To what extent? Why? Write an essay in which you explain and analyze several key differences between Cole and Baldwin. Remember to draw evidence from the text in order to illustrate their respective positions as well as your own analysis of those positions. (Remember that while you are welcome to cite Baldwin, you are not required to do so, and you can write this essay using only Cole’s essay since he quotes Baldwin himself.)This essay should be a fully developed essay of 500-1000 words, including a clear introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The form of this essay should be a summary-response essay: first briefly summarize Cole’s essay (no more than one paragraph), then focus on specific areas in which Cole differs from Baldwin (at least two paragraphs focusing on at least two key differences). Include direct quotes and parenthetical citations.
