Blues for Mister Charlie

Blues for Mister Charlie

First edition cover
Author	James Baldwin
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Play
Publisher	Dial Press
Publication date	1964

Blues for Mister Charlie is James Baldwin's second play, a tragedy in three acts. It was first produced and published in 1964.^[1] It is dedicated to the memory of Medgar Evers, and his widow and his children, and to the memory of the dead children of Birmingham."^[2] The play is loosely based on the Emmett Till murder that occurred in Money, Mississippi, before the Civil Rights Movement began.^[3]

Plot

Act I

Act I opens up with Reverend Meridian Henry coaching the Negro students through their lines. They are interrupted by Parnell Jones who brings them the news that Lyle Britten will be arrested for the murder of Richard Henry. When he leaves to go tell Britten about his future arrest, the students talk amongst themselves about the struggles they face as Black people. The scene shifts to Lyle and his wife Jo Britten in their store. His wife brings up the death of Richard, fearful that her husband may go to jail because of a past transgression he had with another Black man who died as a result of the confrontation. Lyle defends himself by claiming self-defense. When Parnell Jones arrives, Lyle assures both of them not to worry. The scene shifts into a flashback with Richard and his grandmother, Mother Henry. He confronts her about the death of his mother whom he believes was pushed down the stairs, though Mother Henry claims she fell down by accident. Richard swears that he will protect himself from the white man at all costs, showing her a gun. Before she leaves, his grandmother pleads with him to get rid of it. Soon after, the Negro students, Pete and Juanita, arrive to take Richard out to Pete D’s bar. While they’re dancing, Richard confides in Juanita about his time up North and how he became a junkie. Lyle arrives on the scene and bumps into Juanita, interrupting her dance with Richard. The two share words before Lyle leaves. Later Richard goes to talk to his father, the reverend, about taking the nonviolent route, handing over his gun. Here the flashback ends and the scene opens with Parnell returning to the church to reassure Reverend Meridian Henry that Lyle will be taken to court; however, he also makes sure to say that the storeowner will not be convicted. Parnell tells the reverend to just let the matter go. The scene ends as he departs.

Act II

Act II opens with Jo Britten and the white townspeople in her home. They discuss how frightened they have become of the Black townspeople lately. Soon Parnell Jones arrives and gets into a debate over his paper and his place in the Black community with the white men. Lyle arrives some time later and the others continue to tease Parnell as he proposes to put Black people in the jury at Lyle’s trial. The white townspeople soon leave with only the Brittens and Parnell in the house.

Lyle leaves to take a shower and when they are alone, Jo confronts Parnell about her husband sleeping with Willa Mae, the wife of Old Bill — the Black man Lyle killed. She asks Parnell if he had ever loved a Black woman. When he says yes, Jo says that it is possible that Lyle had loved Willa Mae and killed her husband out of spite. She continues, saying that if that is possible then it is possible that he killed Richard. Lyle returns with his son and passes him to Jo. The scene changes to Lyle and Parnell in the store talking about Lyle’s relationship with Willa Mae. They also discuss the first time Lyle met Richard. Again, Lyle denies killing him. Jo arrives with their son, ending the discussion.

Another flashback occurs, showing Richard and Lorenzo going to the Brittens’ store. Richard humiliates Lyle in front of his wife before he runs off with Lorenzo. The flashback ends, going back to Parnell and Lyle talking in the store. Lyle slips up and describes how Richard’s body was left face down in high weeds. When Parnell asks how he knew that, Lyle claims to have read it in the newspaper. Parnell leaves soon after to go to Richard’s funeral, ending the second act.

Act III

Act III opens up with Lyle’s trial. It has been two months since Richard’s death. A number of people are called up to take the stand as witnesses regarding Richard’s character. Jo lies about Richard attempting to sexually assault her in the store. Juanita, Lorenzo, Mother Henry, the Reverend and Parnell Jones defend Richard’s character when called up. Papa D, the owner of the bar, takes the stand and tells the court that he witnessed Richard leave with Lyle on a night when he was closing up the bar. A brief flashback shows Lyle threatening to kill Papa D if he were to tell people Lyle didn’t kill Old Bill in self-defense. The court rules in Lyle’s favor. Another flashback shows Lyle killing an unarmed, nonviolent Richard before disposing his body in the high weeds. The act ends with Lyle telling Reverend Meridian Henry that he will never apologize for the death of Richard.

Title explanation

"Mister Charlie" is a phrase used by African Americans that refers to the white man.^[2]

Characters

Richard Henry, son of Meridian Henry

Meridian Henry, a Negro Minister.

Mother Henry, Meridian Henry’s mother.

Tom, Ken, Arthur, Juanita, Lorenzo, Pete, all Negro students.

Lyle Britten, a white store owner.

Jo Britten, Lyle’s wife.

Parnell James, editor of the local newspaper.

Papa D., Negro owner of a juke joint.

Hazel, Lillian, Susan, Ralph, Ellis, Rev. Phelps, George, all white townspeople.

The State

Counsel for the Bereaved

Congregation of Rev. Henry’s church, Pallbearers, Blacktown, Whitetown

Analysis

Critiques of Christianity

James Baldwin uses this play as a vehicle to address his issues with Christianity, a religion used historically to justify the enslavement of Africans. He argues that Christianity is a type of plague that “has the power to destroy every human relationship”.^[4] Through his character Lorenzo, he denounces the religion for its ability to be used to preach passivity while endorsing violence.^[4] Lorenzo articulates the lack of empathy the religion has for the Black community, calling it “the white God” who ignores others’ suffering at the hands of the irrational. He accuses the reverend of praying to a god that only cares for those who are white and that it is that god who is responsible for the destruction of Black lives.^[5]

Morality

Baldwin challenges the common beliefs of morality between whites and Blacks. With whites as the targeted audience, he associates his Black characters with traits commonly associated with whites such as “godliness, courage and braggadocio”.^[6] His white characters possess the weaknesses stereotypically attributed to Blacks such as “lust, lack of moral strength, and violence”.^[6] By situating his characters to reflect the opposite of what was expected of his audience, Baldwin places the viewers in the position to acknowledge the complexities of human nature. His restricting of the white community to one dimension of human nature as the white community does to Blacks compels the white audience to come face to face with how humanity may be stripped by the simple act of shrinking one’s complexities.^[7]

References

Works by James Baldwin Novels Go Tell It on the Mountain Giovanni's Room Another Country Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone If Beale Street Could Talk Just Above My Head Plays The Amen Corner Blues for Mister Charlie Short story collections Going to Meet the Man "The Rockpile" "The Outing" "The Man Child" "Previous Condition" "Sonny's Blues" "This Morning, This Evening, So Soon" "Come Out the Wilderness" "Going to Meet the Man" Poetry collection Jimmy's Blues Essay collections Notes of a Native Son Nobody Knows My Name The Fire Next Time No Name in the Street The Devil Finds Work The Evidence of Things Not Seen The Price of the Ticket Collaborations Nothing personal A Rap on Race One day when I was lost A Dialogue Little Man Little Man: A Story of Childhood