Sonny's Blues

#1 1 - Research the setting of “Sonny’s Blues” – Harlem, NYC.

Q: How does the setting affect/shape Sonny’s character and create
conflict/complications in the story?

A: The setting in Harlem in the late 1950's was a time of struggle. Sonny was surrounded by poverty, and everyone who he knew (including himself) wasbrought up to beleive that they were not going anywhere or doing anything with their lives. "these boys were now living as we'd been living then, they were growing up with a rushand their heads bumped abruptly against the low ceiling of their actual possibilities."--Sonny's Blues


#2 1 – Research the history of African-American men in the military – Pre-Civil
Rights movement.

Q:Why is it ironic that Sonny wants to enlist?

A: African-American men in the military were not treated as equals in the military for a very long time. They were discriminated against on and off base, and mentally and physically beat down. For Sonny to join the army was a very brave and challenging thing to do for any African-American in his era.

"The true fulfillment of the entire scope of Executive Order 9981—equality of treatment and opportunity—actually required an additional change in Defense Department policy. This occurred with the publication of Department of Defense Directive 5120.36 on 26 July 1963, 15 years to the day after Truman signed the original order. This major about-face in policy issued by Secretary of Defense Robert J. McNamara expanded the military’s responsibility to include the elimination of off-base discrimination detrimental to the military effectiveness of black servicemen."--http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/welcome.html


#3 1- Research song lyrics by Billie Holiday.

Q:Find a song or verse that you feel best represents the suffering of Sonny – his blues. Include song title and lyrics here.

A:

Billie HolidayCompact Jazz - Billie Holiday- I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

I gotta right to sing the blues
I gotta right to moan inside
I gotta right to sit and cry
Down around the river

A certain man in this little town
Keeps draggin' my poor heart around
All i see for me is misery

I gotta right to sing the blues
I gotta right to moan inside
I gotta right to sit and cry
Down around the river
A certain man in this little town
Soon that deep blue sea
Will be callin' me
It must be love say what you choose
I gotta right to sing the blues
I gotta right to sing the blues
I gotta right to moan and cry
I gotta sit and sigh
Down around the river

Soon that deep blue sea
Will be callin' me
It must be love say what you choose
I gotta right to sing the blues
There's nothing left for me
I'm full of misery
I gotta right to sing the blues

http://www.songlyrics.com/billie-holiday/i-gotta-right-to-sing-the-blues-lyrics/

Q: Explain why.

A: The song is talking about how Billie felt like there was nothing left for her, and how she is full of misery. Very much like how Sonny says he is in the "darkness" and trying to get "outside". Also the words "i gotta right to sing the blues" may be related to the struggle that Sonny faced growing up in Harlem.



#4 1 – Research Bebop.

Q:Bebop is the music that Sonny favors. What does the music represent
politically and socially to Sonny? What does the music represent to Sonny’s
brother?

A: To Sonny Bebop represents empowerment, unconventional excitement, and freedom. He finally has something he is really passionate about and he doesnt care if the world is against him. To Sonny's brother bebop represents disorganization, and drug abuse. He doesn't want to see his brother get hooked back up with heroin and throw away his life.