Blues for Mister Charlie: A Play

James Baldwin, an American literary juggernaut, has plowed over his readership, and the modern American theater as well, with this successful attempt at playwriting. Set in the civil rights hayday in a southern everytown, Baldwin introduces readers to a cast of characters that all firmly believe themselves right in a world that couldn't be any more wrong. In addition to pointient dialouge, Baldwin also uses the stage to make his point, segregating the set into blacktown and whitetown with only a communistic journalist regularly breaking the barrier. This play successfully encapsulates the climate of the American civil rights era south in much the same way that history books such as "Common Ground" grasp the life of the north of the same period.

James Baldwin's best known play, known as a protest drama, Blues for Mister Charlie, is included in the Best American Plays 6th Series (1963-67) Baldwin said it is based distantly on the true story of a Mississippii youth, Emmett Till in 1955, who was murdered for whistling at a white woman. The three act play has two sets, the Negro church and the courthouse and in the church setting is a division of characters in Whitetown and Blacktown. Mister Charlie is pseudo for all white men. The lengthy play does go into flashback, so it is important to spot when the flashbacks occur. And one important flashback is the real account of the murder that took place. The opening begins as The black Reverend Meridian discusses whether anybody will be arrested for his son Richard's murder. Lyle, a racist bigot, is accused of the murder. Parnell, also white, is a longtime friend of Lyle. Parnell is also a good friend of all the black folk. This relationship plays a large role. The play then shifts to Whitetown where we learn who storekeeper Lyle and his wife Jo are. Here, Lyle tries to get Parnell to believe him that he didn't kill anyone Lyle is adamant that he will never be convicted. We learn that Lyle has killed a black man before. It is said that Lyle was having an affair with an old black man's young wife. Then, the captivating courtroom dialogue, written with interspersed commentary from the Whitetown and Blacktown and some flashbacks. If you are familiar with the works of Baldwin, you will recognize the preacher in him. His father was a preacher. Baldwin through Rev Meridian has a powerful memorable monologue at the pulpit. In this play, one gets a true understanding of racism against blacks and whites and how justice is obstructed through racism. ........MzRizz

I have just finished this book, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to pick it up. You start reading and you almost forget it is a play! There is a lesson to be taught in this book, and one to be learned when finished. It shows more than one reality of living in the south back in this time. There was racism, there was tolerance,there was love and there was always turmoil! A battle to do the right thing and even the wrong!. We are all a product of our surroundings but we can also try to change that, and sometimes the cost of not "wanting things to be the way they have always been" is too much for any one person. It made me sad, (hence my blues!) but I came away with a little extra something. Please read this book!

this play is wonderful. not only does the reader come away with a deeper insight into the racist psyche that plagues our country, but also a clearer view of how racism is perpetuated systematicly in a subsconscience manner. it becomes very appearant that many of the racist characters in the play are truly unaware of the devestating effects their racist attitude is having on their growth as individuals. in fact, we find that we find that such characters are so misguided in their views, they often mistake them as being wholesome,that is, for the betterment of all people, and scripturally based. baldwin's depiction of this cancerous mentality is brilliant. the reader sees clearly how misguided premises can corrupt one's entire mentality.