The Recurrence of Sonny’s Blues

Though the African American community is much more progressive than it was, there are still bits and pieces of the old generation still echoing throughout the new generation. James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” is a great literary example of how the old meets the new and actually parallels certain aspects of life for an African American in many different ways. From parents and previous generations letting siblings know it is their responsibility to look out for one another, especially for the youngest of the bunch, to not fully having the support to chase your dreams because it is not viewed as practical enough are all points that were made in Baldwin’s piece of fiction that are still prevalent today. Though much progress has been made since the days of oppression, oral tradition never dies.

“I ain’t telling you all this to make you scared or bitter or to make you hate nobody. I’m telling you this because you got a brother and the world ain’t change,” is what the narrator’s mother stated in reference to the relationship between him and his brother. Though many of the same themes expressed in “Sonny’s Blues” are still being showcased today, I found this statement, which is about looking out for the younger sibling to be one of the most profound, commonly used oral traditions in African American households today. The narrator’s mother was making a reference to the story of her husband’s brother being ran over in front of him by car full of Caucasian men, who never even stopped to see what they had hit. Though life as an African American citizen isn’t as harsh as it was during the time period in which “Sonny’s Blues” takes place, we are still at a disadvantage. The murders of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis are two major examples o...

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.... Think about something you can do in the mean and in between time. You have to make a living” is an oral tradition that has been passed down in reference to this.

Though “Sonny’s Blues” is a piece of fiction, a lot of things mentioned and themes showcased throughout the story came from a place of reality. These themes are still prevalent today. In conclusion, the quality of life of African American’s has changed over the decades but the newer generation can often times parallel the old generation. As a matter of fact, a lot of things are kept alive and passed down from generation to generation through oral tradition. There are just some things that will never die.

Works Cited

Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. Shorter 11th edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013. 95-118. Print.