Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin

"Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin was about the struggles faced by an African American family, and the hardships that come from racism and the unfair treatment of blacks at the time. More specifically, it shows Sonny's difficulty to advance and positively grow in life, leading to profound drug use and worry by his brother and beloved family members. Throughout the entirety of the story, it involves the two brothers coming to understand one another; the oldest trying to understand reasons for his brothers bad habits and the younger trying to understand his brothers constant pestering and nagging. The story is written in a specific order to show this, by beginning with no understanding and eventually working its way to an ending of love, confidence, and trust. Although the two brothers are very different, with one having a family and job and the other living off the streets, they eventually find common grounds and learn to appreciate one another for who they truly are ("The seven years difference in our ages lay between us like a chasm: I wondered if these years would ever operate between us as a bridge.")

To me racism played a huge role in the story. It showed that even if a black man worked hard to be successful, their achievements would never live up to that of a white man. For instance, although the older brother worked hard as a teacher, he and his family lived "in a housing project" one of which was described as "rundown". This in some instances lead to a lack of desire, eventually making some give up and take part in illegal activities, similar to Sonny. Racism was heavily shown in the story told by the mother about the dad's brother. His brother was hit by a car when they were younger by a group of white men after work. It states that "when they saw yours father's brother they let out a great whoop and holler and aimed the car straight at him." This shows the extreme differences and hatred between the two races, showing how difficult it was to live at a time of such negativity.

Sonny was eventually understood at the end of the story through his music and craftiness on the piano. "Sonny's fingers filled the air with life; his life." He expressed his thoughts and feelings through jazz, both negative and positive. Music proved to be the only way he could truly communicate his feelings, allowing him to release wait off his shoulders as well as bring he and his brother closer together.