Racism in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Theme of Racism
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

Sonny’s Blues is a story that was written as a reflection of flashbacks and memories of family bonds and suffering. The author introduces to the audience a sole narrator who discusses the life of his brother, Sonny, who the authorities had nubbed because of indulging in drugs (Silber 309). Sonny had been influenced by Harlem life, where they were residing, and had strived to learn how to play jazz piano to overcome his limitations. The narrator had ups and downs with Sonny, and through the story, there is a significant aspect of racism which is the main focus of this proposal.

The Theme of Racism

In the story, there were many limits placed on African American teenagers by the racist society then, but many of the victims were discovering their abilities. As seen in the introductory segment, society restricted black Americans from doing what whites did. Sonny remembers that at one point, his uncle had died in an accident caused by drunken whites who had hit him in an attempt to frighten the man (Silber 309). The history of oppression of people of color is the main aspect informing Sonny’s Blues. The upbringing of Sonny and the narrator in Harlem gives a glimpse of what it means to be black. That is the main reason why the narrator restricts his brother from learning all the concepts of the whites, such as driving and playing the jazz piano.

The author has detailed the poverty in Harlem neighborhood that had led to neglect of black persons around the city. That shows that people of color had few opportunities to make a life for themselves, which is why Sonny, at one point, had to leave school to join the Navy (Silber 311). It is an indication that the black people community would only get opportunities that risked their lives since the story had mentioned war.

Conclusion

Therefore, that is an aspect of racism that cannot be overlooked, and the author has showcased it. The perspective of suffering forms a significant part of the narrative and is mostly defined by the fact that the characters at the central part of the story are people of color. Thus, Sonny’s Blues is a story that highlights the presence of race and racism in society through the various scenes and occasions covered in the text.

Work Cited

Silber, Joan. “‘Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin.”Why I Like This Story, 2019, pp. 309–315. Web.

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Racism in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

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