Culture and Identity

Culture identifies people with their beliefs, customs as well as traditions that are believed to be acceptable to the same community. Identity, on the other hand, shows people who are closely related in the way they behave, believe and the affectionate that is unique towards each other that differs from the rest of the society. The differences in culture and identity bring about conflicting interest between those with one identity and same culture with other groups that are not related. James Baldwin in his book ‘Sonny’s Blues’ which was written after the war when everything was about one’s race highlights some of the conflicts that arise among people of different culture and identity. There are beliefs that culture develops the character of people in society. Similarly, identity grows among people who are related in many ways in the different spheres of life. Through culture, there are different activities that change one’s behavior either positively or negatively relying on the environment that one grows up. The paper focuses on the way culture, and environment affects one’s identity and how they relate to others.
The narrator and his brother grew up in postwar Harlem. This is a neighborhood where there are different cultures. Sonny got himself into drugs, and he was taken to rehab (568). He was also associated with the jazz music while the narrator, on the other hand, might have been affected in such a way that he left his childhood town to pursue his teaching career. He did not like the life back in Harlem, and he had hoped to forget everything including his brother although he found it hard as they had close ties.

Furthermore, the writer and his brother were influenced by the environment. For example, there were church gatherings in the narrator’s home in which they sang. It is at this point that Sonny got himself to music; jazz.
Apart from affecting the lifestyles of the brothers, growing up in Harlem gave the brothers their identities. During their reunion, when Sonny came from rehab, the two brothers passed by the neighborhood where they grew up (564). They are trying to associate their current life with the past. The narrator was away in pursuit of the teaching career while Sonny was in the rehab. Passing through the area reminded them of their real past which brings unites them. They also remember times they spent together in the streets. At the beginning of the story, the narrator identifies the boy he met as ‘the boy from our block.’ This statement might mean the narrator identified himself with the neighborhood. But again, Sonny’s brother identified himself as a teacher (568). However, the two identify themselves as the brothers
Despite growing up in the same neighborhood, the brothers led different lifestyles; one was a musician and the other one was a teacher. They didn’t talk for a long time until the death of Gracie, the narrator’s daughter. The case can be evident that clashing of two or more cultures can lead to conflicts. From the story, ‘Sonny’s Blues,’ racism can be seen in Sonny’s father. His brother was killed accidentally by the white people who at first wanted to scare him. The blame goes to the whites. It becomes clear that without understanding another person’s culture, there will always be a conflict. Also, this shows that judging people as a group might lead to misunderstandings as it shows bias and stereotype. The narrator’s father blamed any white man for the death of his brother, and he never had peace till he died (573).
Although at the beginning the narrator associates music especially jazz music with his brother’s involvement in drug abuse, music has a positive impact on culture. For instance, the barmaid danced to the music as a way to console herself and forget her problems for a moment (569). In the end, the narrator changed his attitude towards music and even attended a club to listen to Sonny and his friend Creole performing (584). Moreover, he now sees it as a sign of hope. He sees music as the only thing that could save Sonny from drug abuse. Therefore, music as any art of culture can play a bigger role in society. Not all effects of music in society are negative as when use in the right way influences people’s lives positively. Unfortunately, most of the people tend to pick up the negative influences of music.
In precise, culture and identity are influential factors in the way people relate to each other. As seen in James Baldwin’s story ‘Sonny’s Blues,’ culture and identity issues sometimes can bring conflicts and isolation. Though the events in the story took place after the war, the impacts of culture are witnessed even in the modern society. Such conflicts can only be avoided if only we learn and appreciate each other’s culture. The narrator and his brother learned to appreciate each other’s way of life, and at the end, they lived in harmony.
Works cited
Baldwin, James. Going to meet the man. Royal Blind Society of New South Wales., 1998.