In the story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin, the narrator explains the difficulties that his brother had to face mainly, but also the rest of his family. when he was a child. He shows this by telling a continuous stream of stories indirectly reflecting the racism and segregation they faced where they grew up. Furthermore, through this the narrator shows the lack of human rights given to the people around him due to the circumstances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Racism is the dark undercurrent that runs through “Sonny’s Blues.” It is rarely referenced directly but its appeal is constantly felt. For example, Baldwin mentions housing projects rising up in Harlem like “rocks in the midst of a churning sea” (Baldwin 80). The fruits of local and federal segregationist housing policies, the projects describe the impact of racism on a community. However, even though racism is slightly more prominent in some areas such as projects, it is acknowledged that racism remains a threat everywhere when the narrator recounts that when his mother suggested the family move to a safer area, the father always said: “Safe” “Safe, dammit!” There is no safe place for children or anyone. (Baldwin 81). Likewise, much of Sonny's brother's dismay at his students can be attributed to the fact that they are a lot like Sonny and that they live in a system that discriminates against them mercilessly and endlessly. Throughout the story, it is evident that many factors led to Sonny's difficulties. faces during his life. However, it would seem that the main responsibility for his ultimate downfall, his landing in prison, lies with the racist society in which he lived. However, the blame ends up falling on Sonny's brother, not only because of the inherent relational responsibilities between a younger sibling and an older sibling. , but because of their mother's request to take care of Sonny in her absence. This request foregrounds the constant, vague influence of racism throughout the story, as when the narrator's mother explains how drunken white men killed her brother-in-law and warns the brother that something similar might happening to Sonny, showing much Much of the suffering discussed in the story discussed can be attributed to the effects of racism. The mother's actions are explained when the brother speaks of suffering as something that is passed down from one generation to the next in the African-American community, making racism the culprit for Sonny's current state of unhappiness and his brother. The whole subliminal insertion of the ever predominant theme Racism also addresses human rights in the story. Human rights are addressed as many members of the narrator's family and the community around him have been stripped of them due to racism. For example, the way the brother describes the projects as being new at first, but then becoming dilapidated despite the residents' efforts to keep them intact, like a house in a wealthier neighborhood. This somehow implies that the houses were not of good quality, because despite efforts, they could not be maintained to standard. Receiving these accommodations shows a lack of human rights since one of the basic human rights is housing, and if the "shelter" you live in is inferior to others, it may prevent you from advancing to others things.