“I don’t sing the blues to feel good. The blues is a way of understanding life.” –
Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey
Though Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is set in Chicago, August Wilson’s love for jazz and blues music flourished in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. The Crawford Grill reigned supreme as the hot spot for live music and jazz epicenter of the city. Wilson saw the blues as a cultural response by blacks in America to different situations. We see this as Ma Rainey vocalized the emotions of many through her music as a voice for the black people. The Crawford Grill provides a peek into Ma Rainey’s universe. |