The Outing (short story)

"The Outing" is a 1965 short story by James Baldwin, taken from the short story collection, Going to Meet the Man.

Plot introduction

On the Fourth of July, parishioners are having a church outing (this year, a boat trip up the Hudson River up to Bear Mountain).

Plot summary

Johnnie and Roy are brothers going on a religious outing on a boat with their church. Johnnie's father, Gabriel, tells him to be good, and Johnnie replies that he need not reprimand him. Johnnie and Gabriel get in a verbal fight and Johnnie is left visibly angry. Johnnie gets a moment alone with his best friend, David, they embrace and Johnnie tells David he loves him. Everyone on the boat is talking about sin and salvation. There is then a church ceremony on the boat, with an ironic digression on the Bible being based on white symbolism. Later, the boys are waiting for their friend Sylvia to be alone as they have brought her a present. Johnnie leaves David and Roy to be alone for a while. When Johnnie joins David and Roy at the riverside, it is time for them to leave. David is with Sylvia, Roy is with another girl and Johnnie is alone.

Characters

• Gabriel Grimes, Johnnie's stepfather
• Father James.
• Johnnie,
• Lois, Johnnie's nine-year-old sister.
• Roy, Gabrieal Son.
• Mrs Jackson, David and Lorraine's mother.
• David Jackson, John and Roy's friend
• Lorraine, David's elder sister.
• Sister McCandless
• Sylvia
• Sister Daniels, Sylvia's mother.
• Brother Elisha
• Reverend Peters
• 'Johnnie's unnamed mother

Main themes

• Adolescence and puberty.
• Religious faith in the African-American community.