Sonnys Blues

1. The reason that Harlem was so vulnerable to drugs in the 1950's was because around that time blacks did not have many rights and therefore didn't have many jobs besides for being musicians and entertainers. This led to lack of money coming into the community. The lack of money forced people find other means of getting it and because everyone was being told not to do drugs there was a higher demand for it. The blacks in the community started selling heroin and because they were around it so much they started doing drugs.
(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070726080849AA9nAW4)

This affects Sonny's character in the way of making him an easy target to start drugs. He did’t not finish school, he didn't want to do anything besides music so he didn't have another job or a way of getting money. This creates conflict by getting sonny into drugs and then getting him into trouble.

2. during the war they got little to no respect from white men. they still got discriminated against and had no rights. officers often didn't talk to them or tell them what to do, they had to do it without instruction. They still got beat up and had violent attacks on them.
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=african+american+men+in+the+military+pre+civil+rights&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=4&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redstone.army.mil%2Fhistory%2Fintegrate%2FCHRON3.html

Its ironic that sonny wants to join because it doesn't make sense that he would choose to go into this situation when he had a place to live and people who love him. at least not to our knowledge was getting beat up or had issues around where he lived. his brother specifically told him not to do that and that he should finish school and get a real job.

3. Solitude
In my solitudeYou haunt meWith dreadful easeOf days gone byIn my solitudeYou taunt meWith memoriesThat never dieI sit in my chairAnd filled with despairThere's no one could be so sadWith gloom everywhereI sit and I stareI know that I'll soon go madIn my solitudeI'm afraidDear Lord aboveSend back my loveI sit in my chairAnd filled with despairThere's no one could be so sadWith gloom everywhereI sit and I stareI know that I'll soon go madIn my solitudeI'm afraidDear Lord aboveSend me back my love
http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/billie-holiday-lyrics/solitude-lyrics.html

I think that this explains him really well becasue he remembers the drugs he did and he remembers the things that happened. his parents dying and his mom being sad for a while and talking about the lord and how he wants to hear it. his brother him always says that he has theblues which could mean he is sad.

4. Bebop is a type of jazz music that started in the 1940's with a smaller number of players then in other bands, which means that it is more focused on the individuals as well as the band as a whole. alot of the songs had different lyrics then some songs which made it difficult for people to dance to and is more aimed at listening to.
http://www.hypermusic.ca/jazz/bop.html

The music represents everything that sonny went throiugh he can express his feeling through the music even with just the instruments and not lyrics. It reminds him of what his dad listened to. the music doesnt mean as much to sonnys brother besides for the music that sonny enjoys and plays and that is the only reason that he listens to it.