If Beale Street Could Talk Essay

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McKenzie Viau Synthesis Essay If Beale Street Could Talk, is a story written by James Baldwin that creates themes of racism, justice, and prejudice while still telling a story of Tish, a pregnant woman, who still loves her boyfriend Fonny, who is in Jail. Baldwin is challenging the status quo by writing in a woman’s point of view, as this said woman is challenging the effects of racism on her life. While the bulk of the book focuses on social prejudice and family matters, deep down it is still a simple love story between a troubled young man and a hectic young woman, The novel is based in Harlem, New York in a time where racial problems were at an all time high. Racism is a major theme in the novel and Baldwin makes it abundantly clear. The largest problem with the case is that Officer Bell is “a blatant racist.” (Baldwin, 139). This lends to the fact that the theme of racism takes away from the love story, but this can be changed with the description of the first time they met Officer Bell. In that store Officer Bell had a gun in his hand ready to kill …show more content…

All Tish and Fonny wanted was respect from everyone and this is seen through their constant references to “Aretha” throughout the story. Source B, by Aretha Franklin states that all they wanted was a little respect, enough to give them freedom. The search for respect led Fonny and Tish to find a deeper love for eachother. Fonny found prejudice while trying to find an important because he was a poor black man. Even though he could not get this respect he was stuck with his little place with a mattress on the floor. This place is also known as the place that they first made love, which in the novel is a turning point in their relationship. It makes Tish feel like a woman who can now say she loves her man Fonny. Without prejudice their love may not be as deep as it was with

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