Conversation so far:
Did James Baldwin come from a religious family?
During his teenage years, Baldwin followed his stepfather's shadow into the religious life.
Was James Baldwin happy with his feelings on religion?
However, he became dissatisfied with ministry, considering it hypocritical and racist, and ultimately left the church because his father's expectation was that he be a preacher

Question: What steps did he take after leaving the church?
Self-contained rewrite: What steps did James Baldwin take after leaving the church during his teenage years?