Baldwin's Sonny's Blues

Reid, Robert. "The Powers of Darkness in 'Sonny's Blues.'." CLA Journal 43.4 (June 2000): 443-  
     453. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Jelena O. Krstovic. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale, 2007.   
     Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

Reid discusses the symbolism in Sonny’s Blues, specifically what the darkness represents in the novel for Blackness everywhere. Also discusses the roles of the characters in the novel and their representations within the darkness. Overall, how darkness is a tragic symbol and that is not necessarily a bad thing. The essay ends with the acceptance of the darkness, or encouragement to do so, because it is a necessary part of life, as we see in Baldwin’s writings. It is hard to tell how reliable the narrator is, as a large part of this scholarly essay seems to be personal opinion. However, it does provide an interesting opinion of Baldwin’s writing. 

A Take on Baldwin's Views on Community

Clark, Keith. "The Perilous Journey to a Brother's Country: James Baldwin and the Rigors of
     Community." Black Manhood in James Baldwin, Ernest J. Gaines, and August Wilson.
     Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2002. 30-64. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Jelena O.
     Krstovic. Vol. 98. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

Clark discusses how Baldwin successfully portrays relationships between Black men, something not many other Black writers of the time managed to do. Specifically discusses his achievements in writing Sonny’s Blues, and his accurate depictions of Black brotherly love as born from a spiritual place. Also brings about his successes in depicting Black maleness and separating it from the white male’s idea of it. Seemingly accurate text, gives a good idea of Baldwin’s success as a writer solely in passing along his message. Also, humanizes him more, gives better idea of what he was struggling for.

Baldwin's Role in Gay Black Literature

Bergman, David. "The Agony of Gay Black Literature." Gaiety Transfigured: Gay Self-
     Representation in American Literature. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1991. 163-
     187. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Thomas J. Schoenberg and Lawrence
     J. Trudeau. Vol. 218. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

Bergman discusses the problems James Baldwin, and other gay, Black authors, face in the literary world. Mentions claims that a Black author cannot be gay, and vice versa, because of the separation of their inequality. Specifically discusses Eldridge Cleaver’s opinions of his ‘forcing homosexuality’ which Bergman refutes. Continues on and discusses Baldwin’s personal views on homosexuality, and the problems he faces with religion, specifically Pentecostalism. Main point: discusses the role of homosexuality in Africa, seen through Baldwin, how can one be Black and gay.

Novels of James Baldwin: An Overview

Bone, Robert A. "The Novels of James Baldwin." Tri-Quarterly (Winter 1965): 3-20. Rpt. in
      Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon R. Gunton. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale Research,  
      1981. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

Bone discusses each of Baldwin’s novels, though he manages to stay away from summarizing any of them. He mainly talks about the impact they had and have on the literary world, on the reader, and other writers. He also discusses the quality of Baldwin’s writing in each novel, and how it changes with time. Overall, this is definitely a reliable source not only for grasping the general ideas of each of James Baldwin’s novels, but also as a portal through which you see the great impact he had on the literary community, on the Black community, and on the world. Author Robert Bone is reliable because he does not hold back, he is critical and not always nice about each work, giving him an honest edge.

Chinua Achebe on James Baldwin

Achebe, Chinua. "James Baldwin." James Baldwin: The Legacy. Ed. Quincy Troupe. Simon &
     Schuster, 1989. 213-217. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter.
     Vol. 127. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Dec. 2012.

The piece is Chinua Achebe’s interpretation of James Baldwin as a person, not as a writer, which is very interesting. He gave personal anecdotes of his first meetings with Baldwin, which give a wider view of Baldwin's personality. It goes on to describe his struggles with injustice, struggles shared with Achebe himself, and the American public. It is not necessarily a completely accurate and historically sound writing on Baldwin, as Achebe seems more biased in favor of Baldwin. The way he describes Baldwin as constantly smiling, and as a man of near constant high spirits, gives the reader a picturesque view of Baldwin, though once again not an accurate one.