A Mother’s Love, and Harlem’s Absence

The tale of two brothers is highlighted in James Baldwin’s story “Sonny’s Blues”. Sonny, who is wild and rough, was a man who grew up in Harlem. In the short film by Mr. Williams, this was not very well represented. Harlem itself seemed to be absent from the film. The homes didn’t fit the background of Harlem. Harlem can play such a big role in the lives of the young people, yet in the film, Harlem didn’t seem to be an important character. Sonny’s brother describes Sonny in Harlem as “always [being] a good boy, he hadn’t ever turned hard or evil or disrespectful, the way kids can, so quick, so quick, especially in Harlem,” (Baldwin, 96).
Another main part of the story that is missing is Sonny’s brother’s conversation with his mom. While in the story this is a rather short flashback, it plays an instrumental role in describing the kind of relationship Sonny and his brother have. Without this part of the story, the audience is unable to fully see the depth of the brothers’ connection. While other parts of the story are missing, this part’s absence has the most detrimental effect.
Overall, by seeing and reading two different versions of the story, the audience gains a deeper understanding of the message as a whole. However, the short story gives a better description, both versions have their merits.

Balwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues.” 1957. The Norton Introduction to Literature. By Kelly J. Mays. 11th ed. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2013. 96-118. Print.