Sonny's Blues Assignment #1

Sonny's Blues is a heartfelt short story about two brothers struggling to understand each other in the troubling times of jazz, drugs and crazy dreams. The story takes place in Harlem, NY and reflects James Baldwin's own experiences growing up in Harlem and witnessing the struggles that African American people went through in that time period.

Question#1: Harlem has had few changes over the past century. Whether viewing it during the 1940's or right now in 2009 it is still the same run down part of New York that house low income families, drug addicts and gang members. Housing units commonly referred to as "the projects" are the only buildings seen, shady people sit on street corners and people bustle around wishing that they could be hurrying away from this place. But there is still hope for Harlem for it is always filled with young kids with dreams and hopes for a better environment than what they live in. Such a dream live on because of the Harlem Renaissance. During the 1920's Harlem was filled with a new found love for the arts and many notable black leaders flourished during this time period.
http://www.vintageperiods.com/harlem.php
This setting obviously has an effect on Sonny's character. Because he grew up in a place where dreams live on but only stay figments of the imagination he becomes a dreamer struggling to make them his reality. He also gets into the wrong crowd, as many do in Harlem, and ends up becoming addicted to heroin and becomes just another low life. Sonny kicks his habit but will always walk in the shadow of his former life and feel a strange comfort in the false high he felt while on the drugs and hanging out with his friends.

Question #2: African Americans have always met difficulty when enlisting in the army. When World War 1 came around everyone was told to enlist but when blacks tried to enlist they were often denied. They were denied often but kept on trying because America was in a frenzy over democracy and keeping America free. Obviously the black community felt this frenzy and their dreams and hopes were strengthened despite the fact that America still did not view them as their equal.
http://www.ritesofpassage.org/mil_wwone.htm
It is ironic that Sonny wished to enlist in the army because Sonny wanted to join the army to get away from his problems at home and not be influenced to chase his dreams. It is only when he enlisted that his love for music was strengthened because the army was filled with inspiring individuals also looking to chase their dreams.

Question #3: Billie Holiday's "Gloomy Sunday" explains Sonny perfectly. It talks about an empty life full of empty dreams that reflects Sonny's suffering. The song talks about death and deciding to end it all while asking that no one be sad about that death. Sonny is a tortured soul and the numberless days, dying dreams and sorrow is perfectly reflected by this song.
http://www.billieholidaysongs.com/lyrics_gloomy_sunday.htm

Question #4: Bebop is a unique style of jazz that is composed of four to six players. The sound is rather odd due to the fact that it is rhythm based, has irregular phrasing and is full of complex melodies that cause a stir in the heart. It was developed in the 1940's and was unsuitable for dancing due to its numerous changes in rhythm.
http://www.hypermusic.ca/jazz/bop.html
Sonny prefers bebop to any other type of music. It represents a need for change in society and how blacks are viewed in the world to Sonny. Basically through this music Sonny dares to be different so that the world will dare to be different. To Sonny's brother this music only represents disruption and an uncaring attitude towards the order of the world. He sees this music as another escape for low life dreamers.