In “The Fire Next Time,” James Baldwin uses two essays to not only examine racism in a time when the civil rights movement was just emerging, but also to present readers with the consequences of American intolerance towards the black population. During Baldwin's lifetime, racial injustices plagued America, and for blacks, equality was simply an idea, not a reality. Despite racism, Baldwin sees that America still has a chance to right its mistakes by learning to love and accept those of different races. If blacks and whites learned to accept each other, Baldwin believes America would become stronger as a nation. In the first part of the book, "My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Emancipation," Baldwin warns his nephew of the harsh reality into which he was born and which he will face during his lifetime. Many people, black and white, must learn to love and accept everyone, regardless of race or otherwise. The Christian church that Baldwin once loved so much preached love. Churchgoers were told to love all, but sadly Baldwin learned that all did not mean all. While recounting his complaints about the church, Baldwin explained, “When we were told to love everyone, I had thought that meant everyone. Hand. It only applied to those who believed as we do, and it didn't apply to white people at all. (Baldwin, 40) The love that the church had taught Baldwin was not as pure as he had once believed. At one point, a minister told Baldwin that he should never give up his seat to a white woman because white men did not give up their seats to black women. Baldwin couldn't understand why he shouldn't give up his seat to a woman just because she was white. If blacks wanted whites to treat them with respect, blacks should treat whites too