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Carson, or “Sonny,” as he prefers to be called, begins his story seething with anger. Sonny is keenly aware of and infuriated by his unjust and unequal circumstances. He recognizes that segregation in the United States is not actually about keeping Black and white people separated, but about the constant humiliation and degradation of Black people, and his understanding of this fact makes him even angrier. Although Sonny initially puts his anger to good use, participating in civil rights activism, his frustration at the apparent lack of progress leads him down a self-destructive path. He stops trying to fix anything or hope for better and instead turns to self-medication through drugs and his relationship with Amani. Because of his focus on escapism, Sonny refuses to acknowledge the children he fathers.

Willie’s lecture makes Sonny realize that his self-destruction is only perpetuating the patterns of loss and family destruction that white supremacy created. As we see in Marcus’s chapter, Sonny goes on to defy these stereotypes of Black masculinity and break the cycle of broken families on the American side. By deciding to work for his sobriety and be present in Marcus’s life, he becomes an essential part of Marcus’s success. He teaches Marcus the Black history that often gets left out of high school curriculums, fostering an academic curiosity and a sense of justice. Learning about Black history further encourages Marcus to learn more about his own family, helping piece together what parts of the broken family tree he can. Sonny’s legacy is applying the messages of Black power and dignity from the civil rights movement to his personal life, bequeathing Marcus a rich inheritance.

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