The book begins with a preface, written for the 30th-anniversary edition, in which Baldwin explains how he felt unprepared to publish this collection of essays. Baldwin describes the importance of African Americans reclaiming the specific inheritance that was taken from them through slavery and racism while also reaching toward what is shared and universal among all people. Baldwin ends the preface by noting that he published the collection when he was just 31 and how, in more than 30 years, very little has changed in terms of racism in America.
In the first chapter, entitled "Autobiographical Notes," Baldwin presents some details about himself. Baldwin was born in Harlem and was interested in reading from an early age. His father wanted him to become a preacher but Baldwin felt little interest in religion. When he was 20, Baldwin left for Paris where he began writing more actively. While there, Baldwin decided that he must write about his experience as a black man before being able to write properly anything else.
In the next essay, "Everybody's Protest Novel," Baldwin discusses the well-known novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. While many hailed the novel as progressive, Baldwin criticizes it for treating the subject of slavery from a sentimentalist view. This is, in Baldwin’s opinion, an overly simplistic way to look at the situation and does not analyze the reason why the slaves were treated the way they were. Baldwin also points out that in the novel, black people are still presented in a stereotypical way and that whiteness is still associated with goodness and beauty. Baldwin also critiques Richard Wright's novel Native Son for oversimplifying complex issues and giving into rage and violence.
The next essay is "Many Thousands Gone." Baldwin argues that the reason why African-African experience is so little understood is that white people are unwilling to listen. In time, white society developed a certain way of looking at the black community through racist stereotypes. Baldwin again criticizes Richard Wright's Native Son for the way it accepts the image constructed of African Americans by white society.
"Carmen Jones: The Dark is Light Enough" is a review of the film Carmen Jones. The movie was adapted from the French opera Carmen but only black people were cast as actors. Despite this, Baldwin notes that the movie depicts black people in an unnatural way and removes certain aspects of the black culture such as their language to make the actors and their actions appear more suitable. Baldwin also criticizes the movie for desexualizing black people and for making it seem as if their sexuality is a threat and something negative that must be avoided.
In his next essay, "The Harlem Ghetto," Baldwin talks about Harlem, the neighborhood of New York City where he grew up. He describes the poor conditions in the neighborhood, noting that Harlem has changed little since his youth despite the efforts made by some black leaders. Baldwin also criticizes the press and how it fails to distinguish itself from the publications written by white people. Baldwin notes that countless churches can be found in Harlem, which reveals the importance of religion for many in the community. At the same time, he notes that black people have strong tensions with the Jewish people who live in proximity to the neighborhood. Baldwin also disagrees with the idea that oppression makes people wiser and claims that oppression only makes the oppressed feel angry and want revenge.
In "Journey to Atlanta," Baldwin discusses how African Americans are skeptical of the politicians running the country. Blacks are also less inclined to believe in politicians who are black as well since they all end up just as the white politicians, caring only about themselves. Often, black people are used by white politicians to further their agenda, as happened to one of Baldwin’s brothers who traveled to Atlanta to play music for the Progressive Party presidential campaign of Henry A. Wallace. Baldwin's brother was made to gather votes instead of performing by a white party member. Because of this, the quartet made almost no money and returned to Harlem even more disillusioned about politics.
In the title essay "Notes of a Native Son," Baldwin discusses his father, who died in 1943. Baldwin describes his father in depth, a man who was born while his parents were still slaves. His father had trouble connecting with his children, who were scared of him. Towards the end of the father’s life, it was discovered that he was mentally ill, and this contributed to his failing health. Baldwin remembers how his father taught him not to trust white people. Baldwin adopted some of his father’s views while also trying to resist them. When Baldwin was living in New Jersey, he witnessed racial bigotry when he was not allowed to eat in certain restaurants because he was black. Because of this, Baldwin reacted sometimes violently, expressing his anger towards the people who refused to treat him in the same manner. Baldwin returned to Harlem a few days before his father died and he notes that only days after, his youngest sister was also born. The day of the funeral, riots broke out in Harlem. Baldwin describes these riots in great detail, showing how the ghetto periodically revolts again racism and poverty.
In the next essay, "Encounter on the Seine: Black Meets Brown," Baldwin writes about the situation in France and how the African Americans living in Europe had a different situation than those living in the United States. He describes interactions between African Americans and white Americans, white French people, and North Africans in France.
"A Question of Identity" also offers Baldwin's observations in Paris. He describes the American students, most of them WWII veterans studying in France via the GI Bill, who live in Paris. The students chose to remain behind after the war in Europe. The Americans have a romantic idea about what life in Paris will be like but then are quickly disappointed by it. Some decide to return home while others think they are adapting to the local life while holding onto old-fashioned stereotypes about the country. What all these types of American students share is an inability to reflect clearly on what it means to be an American.
In the following essay, "Equal in Paris," Baldwin is arrested after he is accused of possessing stolen sheets. The man who stole the sheets was an American acquaintance of Baldwin's who left his hotel after it became uninhabitable. Baldwin arranged for him to live in the same hotel as him and uses the sheets his friend brought with him without knowing they were stolen. Baldwin is arrested for the stolen sheets and then sent to prison a few miles away from Paris. There, he waits for his trial and he spends his Christmas Eve in despair that he might never be released. A day later, the charges are dismissed. When he is released, Baldwin looks at the judges who laugh at his situation and Baldwin thinks that privileged people all over world laugh like this because they know they will never end up in a similar situation.
The last essay in the collection is "Stranger in the Village." It takes place after Baldwin has left Paris and gone to the mountains of Switzerland. Baldwin stays in a little village where he is the only black person that has ever been seen. They treat Baldwin with great curiosity and yet with coldness, never acknowledging that he is a human being and not a spectacle. While in the village, Baldwin witnesses a festival during which a child dons blackface and then attempts to raise money for the community to "buy" black Africans so they can be converted to Christianity. Baldwin leaves the village but then returns in the winter to write. Some people get used to his presence while other people are suspicious and criticize Baldwin. He then ends the essay by discussing how black and European perspectives on the world diverge.
