The Danger He Tried To Escape: Harlem's Negative Influence in 'Sonny's Blues' Riley Kelly College

Each year, residents of forgotten neighborhoods pay the price of being alive. In “Sonny’s Blues,” James Baldwin uses references to human vulnerability to express the impact of home environment on outlook and life experience. Through the actions of the narrator and Sonny, the idea of being engulfed in the danger of Harlem is explored. Multiple perspectives and insights are presented to delve into the intricacies of how Harlem ruins those it touches. Baldwin uses typical inner-city experiences to communicate the impact of the destruction of Harlem and other cities like it.

As is typical of destructive forces, Harlem does not discriminate. Any citizen can become a product of the city, no matter character or intellect. After Sonny’s incident, he is characterized as a “good boy” who was not expected to fall victim to the danger of the city “the way kids can… especially in Harlem” (Balwin 18). Baldwin’s inclusion of this sentiment to show how citizens of Harlem believe the facade of other’s immunity to destruction to direct the blame to another source. The truth is, the city is so encapsulating that any kind of person can “get hung,” no matter if they are a “smart boy” or not (Baldwin 20). The phrase “get hung” here represents two...