Sonny's Blues

James Baldwin wrote this short story, "Sonny's Blues," about two brothers from Harlem. One of these brothers was a teacher, and the other aspired to be a jazz pianist. The narrator of the story was the older brother, the teacher. The younger brother, Sonny, knew that he had very little future for himself and that music was his only way of getting success. His brother, the narrator, doesn't think that playing jazz is a good idea for Sonny, because he could have a much better future. Sonny takes great offense to this, and says that his brother is ignorant for not knowing anything about jazz or believing that it is a bright future for Sonny. The older brother eventually decides that he will support Sonny's music, and let him live with his wife, Isabel, because she has a piano. The only exception is that he has to go to school. Eventually, the school sends home a letter, telling Isabel that Sonny hasn't been going. He has been going to Greenwich Village, and hanging with his jazz friends, probably doing drugs. After dropping out of school and leaving Isabel's house, Sonny joins the navy. He eventually comes back to New York, and The narrator hears about him in the paper, as he was involved in a heroin bust. Sonny is taken to prison and forced to detox. After he gets out, he meets with his brother, and they are completely distant from one another. Sonny is going to be playing piano at the Greenwich Village, and he asks his brother to go. His brother reluctantly agrees. After arriving there, he begins to see how revered Sonny his for his playing. His talent on the piano is incredible, and he amazes his brother, who had never heard him play. The two brothers develop a connection, as the narrator sees the reason why his brother wanted to be a musician.