James Baldwin’s Influence Echoes in Black Gay Refugee’s Human Rights Work

**How James Baldwin Inspired This Black Gay Refugee’s Fight for Justice**By Nadira Jamerson | Word In BlackEdafe Okporo possesses one of merely 50 original gold-plated editions of James Baldwin’s acclaimed novel “Go Tell it On the Mountain.” After relocating to Harlem in 2016, Okporo reflected on Baldwin, who had passed nearly three decades earlier. Originally from Warri, Nigeria, Okporo discovered Baldwin’s literature long before traversing his iconic streets. “Home is where you feel safe and welcomed, and for Baldwin, that place is Harlem,” he shares.Nearly a decade on, Okporo, an advocate for Black and gay refugees, credits Baldwin’s essence and love as his driving forces. In 2020, he founded a groundbreaking shelter for asylum seekers in New York City, inspired to address pressing social issues.Fleeing the violence of Nigeria, where a draconian law targets LGBTQ+ individuals, Okporo sought asylum in the U.S., confronting further prejudice. His journey, encapsulated in the memoir “Asylum,” serves to guide fellow refugees and influence community mental health initiatives. Baldwin’s teachings affirm that the struggle for justice is persistent and deeply intertwined with one’s identity.

Image Credit: (Wikipedia Commons)