Racism
"People, with a tolerant smile, looked up from the benches or the grass or their books recognizing two Village characters. Then Rufus resented all of them. He wondered if he and Leona would dare to make such a scene in public, if such a day could ever come for them. No one dared to look at Vivaldo, out with any girl whatever, the way they looked at Rufus now; nor would they ever look at the girl the way they looked at Leona. The lowest whore in Manhattan would be protected as long as she had Vivaldo on her arm. This was because Vivaldo was white" (Baldwin 30-31).
Throughout the novel, racism plays a prevalent role in the conflicts between the characters. This passage, from the first chapter of the novel, indicates the hardships interracial couples must endure if they wish to remain together. Rufus is an African American male, who has been discriminated against all of his life. In his eyes, his close white friend, Vivaldo can will never be looked upon by others with the same hateful stares of racist individuals. Ironically, Vivaldo is later faced with the conflicts of racism when he falls in love with Rufus' sister, Ida. Although the white characters in the novel are aware of the racism surrounding them, it does not have as much an effect on them as it does for the African American characters. The fact that Rufus is constantly aware of his race, is ultimately what tears his relationship apart with Leona. His sister Ida also believes Vivaldo of loving the idea of being with someone of a different race, instead of loving her. As the other characters in the novel face the conflicts involving homosexuality and adultery, Rufus and Ida both deal with the continuous racial tension found within the time period.
(The novel picture is linked to a sample of a song by the jazz artist Louis Armstrong. This would have been the type of music in the late 1950s from which the characters in the novel would be associated with.)
The novel is set in an extremely liberal place, Greenwich Village,during the late 1950s. This is a location that is even today associated with the more liberal views of homosexuality. Here is a video that depicts some of the aspects of living in New York City and the cultural developments during this time period.