Power Struggle In Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

As Ma Rainey's Black Bottom indicates, an issue such as classism is not merely an ideology, but a way that differentiates the classes on a social and economic scale. Classism is reflected in the play where the people on the top feel they are naturally superior to those on the bottom, especially displayed through the set-up of the recording studio. Irvin and Sturdyvant are at the top of the economic scale and are characterized as the leaders of those below them. They feel that because they are of the higher social class, they automatically fit the position of power. Although the separation of classes is evident in the play, Ma Rainey makes it clear that she will not succumb to the white man. Instead, there is a power struggle between Ma Rainey …show more content…
This basement represents the bottom of the class scale. Their value as human beings is not as meaningful as those on the top. Toledo knows that if blacks continue to remain at the bottom of the social and economic scale, they will never rise. Toledo states that as long as the colored man look to white folks to put the crown on what he say…as long as he looks to white folks for approval…then he ain't …show more content…
While the separation of classes is evident in the play, the black characters reject the notion of remaining at the bottom of the class scale. Irvin and Sturdyvant remain at the top of the scale throughout the play and try to dominate the other characters. Sturdyvant does not want to be in business with blacks. But since he has no choice, he keeps as far a distance from them as possible while still trying to control their actions. Irvin believes he has the key to keeping blacks under control. However, when Ma Rainey arrives, he seems to use that key to open the door for her to control him instead. Ma Rainey is distinctly in a lower class from those at the top of the studio, but she refuses to be held down at the bottom in her search to rise to the