What is the origin of phrase fire next time?

The phrase "Fire Next Time" comes from a 1963 book of the same name written by African American author and civil rights activist, James Baldwin. The title of the book is derived from a line in a spiritual song which runs, "God gave Noah the rainbow sign/No more water, the fire next time."

In his book, Baldwin used this phrase to warn of the potential for violent retribution by Black Americans if the United States government and White society did not address racial injustice and inequality. He argued that the nation was on the brink of a racial apocalypse and that the only way to prevent it was for white Americans to confront and dismantle the oppressive systems and institutions that perpetuated racism.

The phrase "Fire Next Time" has since become synonymous with the struggle for civil rights and racial equality in the United States and is often used as a call to action for addressing racial injustice.