Ma Rainey Character Analysis in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Ma Rainey was a real-life Black musician famous for singing the blues in the early 20th century. Often hailed as the “Mother of the Blues,” she was an important artist in the genre’s development and popularity. In the play, she is very aware of her own influence and knows how to use it to her advantage. For example, although Sturdyvant wants to exploit her talent, she recognizes that he can’t make any money off her if she doesn’t let him record her songs. She therefore threatens to leave the studio whenever he and Irvin try to make her do something she doesn’t want to do. As such, she manages to maintain creative control over her music, even if the white studio executives will eventually profit off her songs. And she’s not just attuned to the power dynamics at play between her and people like Sturdyvant—she also makes sure that her musicians respect her as the bandleader, which is why she ends up firing Levee for refusing to play the way she wants him to. After she and the band finish recording, Ma almost leaves the studio without signing the release forms for her music. By putting this off until the very end, she maintains the dominant position in her relationship with Sturdyvant for as long as possible. In doing so, she flips the imbalanced power dynamic that usually characterized relationships between Black musicians and white executives in the 1920s.

Ma Rainey Quotes in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

The Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom quotes below are all either spoken by Ma Rainey or refer to Ma Rainey. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

STURDYVANT: I don’t care what she calls herself. I’m not putting up with it. I just want to get her in here...record those songs on that list...and get her out. Just like clockwork, huh?

IRVIN: Like clockwork, Mel. You just stay out of the way and let me handle it.

STURDYVANT: Yeah...yeah...you handled it last time. Remember? She marches in here like she owns the damn place...doesn’t like the songs we picked out...says her throat is sore…doesn’t want to do more than one take...

Related Characters: Sturdyvant (speaker), Irvin (speaker), Ma Rainey

Page Number and Citation: 18

Explanation and Analysis:

STURDYVANT: Irv, that horn player...the one who gave me those songs...is he gonna be here today? Good. I want to hear more of that sound. Times are changing. This is a tricky business now. We’ve got to jazz it up...put in something different. You know, something wild...with a lot of rhythm.

(Pause.)

You know what we put out last time, Irv? We put out garbage last time. It was garbage. I don’t even know why I bother with this anymore.

IRVIN: You did all right last time, Mel. Not as good as you did before, but you did all right.

STURDYVANT: You know how many records we sold in New York? You wanna see the sheet? And you know what’s in New York, Irv? Harlem. Harlem’s in New York, Irv.

Related Characters: Sturdyvant (speaker), Irvin (speaker), Levee, Ma Rainey

Page Number and Citation: 19

Explanation and Analysis:

CUTLER is in his mid-fifties, as are most of the others. He plays guitar and trombone and is the leader of the group, possibly because he is the most sensible. His playing is solid and almost totally unembellished. His understanding of his music is limited to the chord he is playing at the time he is playing it. He has all the qualities of a loner except the introspection.

Related Characters: Levee, Ma Rainey, Cutler

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

SLOW DRAG: Come on, let’s rehearse the music.

LEVEE: You ain’t gotta rehearse that…ain’t nothing but old jug-band music. They need one of them jug bands for this.

SLOW DRAG: Don’t make me no difference. Long as we get paid.

LEVEE: That ain’t what I’m talking about, nigger. I’m talking about art!

Related Characters: Levee (speaker), Slow Drag (speaker), Ma Rainey

Page Number and Citation: 25

Explanation and Analysis:

CUTLER: Slow Drag’s all right. It’s you talking all that weird shit about art. Just play the piece, nigger. You wanna be one of them...what you call...virtuoso or something, you in the wrong place. You ain’t no Buddy Bolden or King Oliver...you just an old trumpet player come a dime a dozen. Talking about art.

LEVEE: What is you? I don’t see your name in lights.

CUTLER: I just play the piece. Whatever they want. I don’t go talking about art and criticizing other people’s music.

Related Characters: Levee (speaker), Cutler (speaker), Ma Rainey, Slow Drag

Page Number and Citation: 26

Explanation and Analysis:

CUTLER: Well, until you get your own band where you can play what you want, you just play the piece and stop complaining. I told you when you came on here, this ain’t none of them hot bands. This is an accompaniment band. You play Ma’s music when you here.

LEVEE: I got sense enough to know that. Hell, I can look at you all and see what kind of band it is. I can look at Toledo and see what kind of band it is.

Related Characters: Levee (speaker), Cutler (speaker), Ma Rainey, Toledo

Page Number and Citation: 27

Explanation and Analysis:

LEVEE: See, I told you! It don’t mean nothing when I say it. You got to wait for Mr. Irvin to say it. Well, I told you the way it is.

CUTLER: Levee, the sooner you understand it ain’t what you say, or what Mr. Irvin say...it’s what Ma say that counts.

SLOW DRAG: Don’t nobody say when it come to Ma. She’s gonna do what she wants to do. Ma says what happens with her.

LEVEE: Hell, the man’s the one putting out the record! He’s gonna put out what he wanna put out!

SLOW DRAG: He’s gonna put out what Ma want him to put out

Related Characters: Levee (speaker), Cutler (speaker), Slow Drag (speaker), Ma Rainey, Sturdyvant, Irvin

Related Symbols: The Song (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

Page Number and Citation: 36

Explanation and Analysis:

TOLEDO: See, now...I’ll tell you something. 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 never gonna find out who he is and what he’s about. He’s just gonna be about what white folks want him to be about. That’s one sure thing.

Related Characters: Toledo (speaker), Levee, Ma Rainey, Cutler

Related Symbols: The Song (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

Page Number and Citation: 37

Explanation and Analysis:

The white man knows you just a leftover. ‘Cause he the one who done the eating and he know what he done ate. But we don’t know that we been took and made history out of. Done went and filled the white man’s belly and now he’s full and tired and wants you to get out the way and let him be by himself. Now, I know what I’m talking about. And if you wanna find out, you just ask Mr. Irvin what he had for supper yesterday. And if he’s an honest white man...which is asking for a whole heap of a lot...he’ll tell you he done ate your black ass and if you please I’m full up with you...so go on and get off the plate and let me eat something else.

Related Characters: Toledo (speaker), Levee, Ma Rainey, Sturdyvant, Irvin

Page Number and Citation: 57

Explanation and Analysis:

IRVIN: Ma, that’s what the people want now. They want something they can dance to. Times are changing. Levee’s arrangement gives the people what they want. It gets them excited…makes them forget about their troubles.

MA RAINEY: I don’t care what you say, Irvin. Levee ain’t messing up my song. If he got what the people want, let him take it somewhere else. I’m singing Ma Rainey’s song. I ain’t singing Levee’s song. Now that’s all there is to it.

Related Characters: Ma Rainey (speaker), Irvin (speaker), Levee

Related Symbols: The Song (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

Page Number and Citation: 62

Explanation and Analysis:

MA RAINEY: I’m gonna tell you something, Irvin...and you go on up there and tell Sturdyvant. What you all say don’t count with me. You understand? Ma listens to her heart. Ma listens to the voice inside her. That’s what counts with Ma. Now, you carry my nephew on down there...tell Cutler he’s gonna do the voice intro on that “Black Bottom” song and that Levee ain’t messing up my song with none of his music shit. Now, if that don’t set right with you and Sturdyvant...then I can carry my black bottom on back down South to my tour, ‘cause I don’t like it up here no ways.

Related Characters: Ma Rainey (speaker), Levee, Cutler, Sturdyvant, Irvin

Related Symbols: The Song (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”)

Page Number and Citation: 63

Explanation and Analysis:

MA RAINEY: They don’t care nothing about me. All they want is my voice. Well, I done learned that, and they gonna treat me like I want to be treated no matter how much it hurt them. They back there now calling me all kinds of names…calling me everything but a child of god. But they can’t do nothing else. They ain’t got what they wanted yet. As soon as they get my voice down on them recording machines, then it’s just like if I’d be some whore and they roll over and put their pants on. Ain’t got no use for me then.

Related Characters: Ma Rainey (speaker), Cutler, Slow Drag, Sturdyvant, Irvin, Sylvester

Page Number and Citation: 79

Explanation and Analysis:

MA RAINEY: If you colored and can make them some money, then you all right with them. Otherwise, you just a dog in the alley. I done made this company more money from my records than all the other recording artists they got put together. And they wanna balk about how much this session is costing them.

Related Characters: Ma Rainey (speaker), Cutler, Sturdyvant, Irvin

Page Number and Citation: 79

Explanation and Analysis:

MA RAINEY: White folks don’t understand about the blues. They hear it come out, but they don’t know how it got there. They don’t understand that’s life’s way of talking. You don’t sing to feel better. You sing ‘cause that’s a way of understanding life.

Related Characters: Ma Rainey (speaker), Cutler, Sturdyvant

Page Number and Citation: 82

Explanation and Analysis:

LEVEE: It don’t matter what you talking about. I ain’t no imitation white man. And I don’t want to be no white man. As soon as I get my band together and make them records like Mr. Sturdyvant done told me I can make, I’m gonna be like Ma and tell the white man just what he can do. Ma tell Mr. Irvin she gonna leave...and Mr. Irvin get down on his knees and beg her to stay! That’s the way I’m gonna be! Make the white man respect me!

CUTLER: The white man don’t care nothing about Ma. The colored folks made Ma a star. White folks don’t care nothing about who she is...what kind of music she make.

Related Characters: Levee (speaker), Cutler (speaker), Ma Rainey, Sturdyvant, Irvin

Page Number and Citation: 94

Explanation and Analysis:

STURDYVANT: Hey, Ma…come on, sign the forms, huh?

IRVIN: Ma...come on now.

MA RAINEY: Get your coat, Sylvester. Irvin, where’s my car?

IRVIN: It’s right out front, Ma. Here...I got the keys right here. Come on, sign the forms, huh?

MA RAINEY: Irvin, give me my car keys!

IRVIN: Sure, Ma...just sign the forms, huh? (He gives her the keys, expecting a trade-off.)

MA RAINEY: Send them to my address and I’ll get around to them.

IRVIN: Come on, Ma...I took care of everything, right? I straightened everything out.

MA RAINEY: Give me the pen, Irvin.

(She signs the forms.)

You tell Sturdyvant…one more mistake like that and I can make my records someplace else.

Related Characters: Ma Rainey (speaker), Sturdyvant (speaker), Irvin (speaker), Sylvester

Page Number and Citation: 105

Explanation and Analysis:

STURDYVANT: Well, Levee, I don’t doubt that really. It’s just that...well, I don’t think they’d sell like Ma’s records. But I’ll take them off your hands for you.

LEVEE: The people’s tired of jug-band music, Mr. Sturdyvant. They wants something that’s gonna excite them! They wants something with some fire! I don’t know what fellows you had playing them songs...but if I could play them! I’d set them down in the people’s lap! Now you told me I could record them songs!

STURDYANT: Well, there’s nothing I can do about that. Like I say, it’s five dollars a piece. That’s what I’ll give you. I’m doing you a favor. Now, if you write any more, I’ll help you out and take them off your hands. The price is five dollars apiece. Just like now.

Related Characters: Levee (speaker), Sturdyvant (speaker), Ma Rainey, Irvin

Page Number and Citation: 108

Explanation and Analysis:

Ma Rainey Character Timeline in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

The timeline below shows where the character Ma Rainey appears in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Ma Rainey’s manager, Irvin, sets up a microphone in a recording studio. Meanwhile, Sturdyvant—the owner of... (full context)

History, Tradition, and Change Theme Icon

Sturdyvant talks about Ma’s trumpet player, who he thinks has a fresh new sound—a sellable sound. Times are changing,... (full context)

...Slow Drag, and Toledo arrive at the studio. Irvin nervously asks these band members where Ma is, but Cutler just says she should be coming soon. Irvin then gives them a... (full context)

...game of craps; he thinks these shoes will impress a young woman he met through Ma. He tried to flirt with her at a club the night before, but the young... (full context)

Collaboration vs. Independence Theme Icon

...those over to Sturdyvant, too. This doesn’t impress Cutler, who reminds him that—for now—he’s in Ma Rainey’s band, not his own. And that means doing what he’s told, playing the way... (full context)

Unable to agree how to play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” the band rehearses a different song. But Irvin interrupts to ask about... (full context)

Levee doesn’t understand why Ma will have the last word. After all, Sturdyvant is the one putting out the record,... (full context)

...sandwiches have arrived upstairs in the studio. He then talks to Sturdyvant, who’s upset that Ma hasn’t come yet and reminds Irvin that he’s supposed to be responsible for her. When... (full context)

After great confusion and commotion, it emerges that Sylvester was driving Ma’s car and got into an accident. The policeman claims Sylvester hit the other vehicle, but... (full context)

After the policeman leaves, Irvin greets Ma and tells her to take a seat while the band finishes rehearsing, but she rejects... (full context)

Upstairs in the studio, Ma takes off her shoes and sings about the discomfort of “sharp-toed shoes.” Meanwhile, Dussie Mae... (full context)

Irvin returns and assures Ma that everything is sorted out with her car, though she warns him that it better... (full context)

...it would be best to go with Levee’s version, since that’s what will sell. But Ma reiterates how little she cares what Sturdyvant or Irvin think—what they say doesn’t matter to... (full context)

Downstairs, Ma explains that the band won’t be playing Levee’s version of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and... (full context)

The band is upstairs in the studio with Ma. As everyone gets ready to record, Ma walks around barefoot and sings to herself. Meanwhile,... (full context)

Catching Levee making eyes at Dussie Mae, Ma tells Cutler to get him in line. Irvin’s voice then sounds over speaker system,... (full context)

Even though Sylvester stutters, Ma wants him to do the intro. It doesn’t matter how long it takes—he’ll get it... (full context)

...session begins, but the band grinds to a halt when Sylvester stutters on the intro. Ma tells him not to worry and that he should take his time. Meanwhile, Sturdyvant comes... (full context)

While the band waits for Slow Drag and Sylvester to come back with the Coke, Ma pulls Cutler aside and chastises him for telling Irvin that Sylvester can’t do the part.... (full context)

...singer Bessie Smith recently recorded this song, so maybe it’s not a good idea for Ma to do it, too. Ma pays this no mind. She has been singing this song... (full context)

...Levee sings one of his own songs while Toledo reads a newspaper, but then Dussie Mae enters, and he immediately starts flirting with her. This makes Toledo uncomfortable—since he wants nothing... (full context)

Meanwhile, Ma waits in the studio and talks to Cutler about the blues, which she thinks white... (full context)

...with the Cokes, at which point Slow Drag goes downstairs to find Levee and Dussie Mae locked in a passionate embrace. Slow Drag doesn’t say anything, instead just going to get... (full context)

...in the studio, everyone is ready to record again. The band does two takes of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” but Sylvester keeps stumbling through his part. Finally, on the third take,... (full context)

Irvin rushes after Ma, pleading with her to stay as Sturdyvant yells that her career will be ruined if... (full context)

...up the session. They tell him he should focus on the music, not on Dussie Mae—who is, after all, “Ma’s gal.” Cutler tells Levee that Ma will ruin his career as... (full context)

...man. As soon as he gets his band and cuts his records, he’ll be like Ma and will have power over white people. (full context)

Although Levee thinks Ma has a certain authority over white men like Irvin and Sturdyvant, Cutler notes that this... (full context)

...Black people—even if they’re respected members of society. The only reason white people care about Ma Rainey is because she can make them money, not because they respect her. (full context)

...the recording session. Everyone congratulates one another, talking about how good everything sounded. But although Ma compliments the others, she critiques Levee for playing too many notes. He tries to tell... (full context)

...need the band. Once he leaves and the band starts to pack up, Irvin approaches Ma and tells her that, though he tried to talk him out of it, Sturdyvant insists... (full context)

Meanwhile, Sturdyvant talks to Ma in the studio, claiming there was a “mistake” and that everything is in order now.... (full context)

After Ma leaves, Sturdyvant comes downstairs and pays each of the band members $25. Before he leaves,... (full context)

...to play them. Still, Sturdyvant remains steadfast, saying the songs won’t sell as well as Ma’s records. “But I’ll take them off your hands for you,” he adds. And if Levee... (full context)