Lightness And Darkness By Michael Clark - 1377 Words

Michael Clark suggests the author James Baldwin uses a theme of lightness and darkness to support the metaphors of childhood. Baldwin connects the culture of Harlem in the 1950s to lightness and darkness not only with childhood, but all stages of a person’s life. I believe Baldwin uses the motif to connect what one has learned as a child and transform those teachings and apply them within your adult life. During this time period, Harlem was flourishing with aspiring artists, writers and musicians. People in Harlem were free to create, explore and expand their ways of thinking. However, this freedom was followed by delinquency, crime and drug use. The setting and time period is significant to â€Å"Sonny’s Blue’s† as it informs the reader on the past and social upbringing of the Harlem culture. Baldwin reveals after the Great Depression and World War II the atmosphere of Harlem changed. The people who lived there were no longer aspiring to do great. People were struggling to find work and pay for their bills. Harlem and the individuals who resided there struggled financially and lived their lives in poverty. The background in regards to Harlem informs the reader that growing up in this area is not easy; temptation exists everywhere you go. Wherever lightness is present, a sort of darkness accompanies it. The author uses lightness and darkness to portray the achievements and disappointments of living in Harlem, discrimination against African Americans and the relationship