James Baldwin's Influences

Erika Malloy Dr. Rachel Bowman-Abdi ENG-105 20, October 2015 Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin is the story of two brothers. One is a teacher and the narrator of the story while the other lives a life of sorrow and struggle. The narrator gives his point of view of Sonny’s situation. Sonny reminds him of the troubled youth that have limited, if any possibilities in life.

No matter what, he’s a great man, especially since his personality never dimmed to reflect his experience as a black man in such a white community. James Baldwin’s an American author through so many works such as essays, novels, plays, and public speeches. The great man never showed any difference from the hatred between the black and whites during this harsh time with him trying to save the brotherhood of it all. I’m going to tell you about how James Baldwin came about, and how he impacted American Literature.

Today I will be giving you information about W.E.B Dubois. His full name is William Edward Burghardt Dubois. He was an Author, Scholar, and a Pan- Africanism. I will give you information about W.E.B Dubois. I will tell you why he is so great and famous.

W.E.B. Du Bois’ “From The Souls of Black Folk” is important to read because the reader is able to see the growth of America in its educational and civic barriers it once possessed. In the article “From The Souls of Black Folk” Du Bois praises the work of Booker T. Washington, although the two have some different thoughts they were very passionate about helping the people who were once slaves adjust to their new freedom. The most important thing that Du Bois talks about in his article is education. To show his enthusiasm he talks about Washington’s experience seeing a young boy trying to better himself, “And so thoroughly did he learn the speech and thought of triumphant commercialism, and the ideals of material prosperity, that the picture

Students Name Course Number Professor Title Date Comparing Sonny’s Blues and Going to Meet the Man: James Baldwin Introduction “Sonny Blues” is one of the stories that make James Baldwin highly regarded as one of the great writers of his time. The story involves the narrator (a jazz musician) with his brother authored in 1950’s Harlem. The main character, Sonny is whom Baldwin centers his story.

The Real Courage Meaning James Baldwin was a famous African author. Atticus’ courage had the connection of courage to James Baldwin’s “Letter to my Nephew”. The connection on “Letter to my Nephew” and Atticus’ courage that they want their children to understand the courage in the real world. They want their child to have the courage instead being scared. James Baldwin was an African-American author, who was born in Harlem, New York.

In the Epilogue written by Alex Haley for The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Haley describes a note that Malcom X had written during an interview that read “‘My life has always been one of changes’”, and this was proven to be true throughout the course of the narrative (410). In the chapter “Minister Malcolm X”, Malcolm X writes about the joy he received by talking about Elijah Muhammad, helping him, and simply being around him. To demonstrate this he writes, “I believed that he had been divinely send to our people by Allah Himself.” (218). He is then dealt a “Major blow” when Elijah Muhammad begins to oust him from the Nation of Islam (312).

Among the African American writers Richard Wright came into prominence, with his creative expression concerned with the social complexities of the Unites States and the reality of African Americans as oppressed minority. Wright wrote his reactions against the inadequacies of blacks in the American society. His writings gave a turning point to the cultural explosion of African American literature. It paved the way for new theories with the significant support of Harlem Renaissance, where the interest of many black intellectuals were patronized for the upliftment of artists and for the effective social reforms. Richard Wright was a pioneer in American Literature whose relationship with socialism helped to define him as a person and as a writer.

Well-known American writer, James Baldwin, in his letter, “A letter to my nephew”, emphasizes white privilege and racism over black lives. Baldwin’s purpose is to express that if his nephew believes what all the white people say about him, he’ll never be his own person or break out of the stereotype set for him. He adopts a passionate almost paternal tone to appeal to his nephew and try and inform him of the type of world he is currently living in. Baldwin begins his letter by expressing the fact that he has started the same letter five times but cannot find the right words to express himself, which indicates the importance of this letter to him.

Writer, James Baldwin believed as an artist, one must pursue and attain a “state of being alone” to find one’s way. (Baldwin, Creative America, p. 1) Like Baldwin, aloneness was a “silence” that painter Beauford Delaney described and which he found in light, a spiritual as well as atmospheric light. Each man needed this “light,” this “silence,” and this “aloneness,” as Baldwin said, to “illuminate [the] darkness;” to delve into their individual creative spaces, explore their shared cultural backgrounds, and embrace their trans-global identities. After James Baldwin moved to Paris he invited Delaney to join him. After arriving in France, Delaney took a train to Normandy.

“I will allow no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him (Booker T. Washington).” Booker Taliaferro Washington was one of the foremost African-American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Virginia born and educated he was from the last generation of African American leaders born into slavery. He would become the voice of former slaves as well as their descendants. An advocate for education as well as an accomplished writer and political advisor the impact he had on the world was definitely felt.

There were many reasons why the Harlem Renaissance was an important time in American history. "The driving force behind the varied activities that made Harlem so vibrant in the twentieth century were sparked by the massive migration of black people from the rural South and the Caribbean.” (Bascom, Lionel C. A Renaissance in Harlem: Lost Voices of an American Community.) The Harlem Renaissance, which took place during the Great Depression, boosted the morale of African Americans. " Harlem in the 1920s was like nowhere else on Earth.

"How and why is a Social Group Represented in a Specific Way?" In 1903, Black Rights Activist, WEB DuBois published a series of essays about racism in the south as well as the methods in which blacks should go about advancing in society. The collection, titled The Souls of Black Folk delivered a distinct interpretation of African Americans when compared to that of Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey. DuBois employs a principal purpose on the education of blacks to achieve social equality.