The Memphis prince How does the historical context of the prospect of war sharpen the focus on social problems?

While the main plot involves getting Moe out of serious trouble, another kind of serious trouble lays in the background like a phantom setting. It's World War II. The story begins in October and ends shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December. None of the characters can do anything about the war. They cannot stop it or avoid it. Clarence decides to join the Army, while Stacey waits for what will become his inevitable fate. Ironically, Clarence dies before tasting war. Stacey will likely not be so lucky, if dying young is any kind of luck.

Cassie has strong opinions about war. She feels that blacks should not fight in wars that whites start for their own benefit. While she is in Solomon's office, Mort argues that fighting this war is necessary, because the Japanese attacked the United States. He includes Hitler, too, due to the Axis treaties that require the member countries to act as one when it comes to war. Bringing up the master race idea of the Nazis, Mort's argument causes Cassie to comment that whites are the same in the US. Mort maintains that the difference is significant. He does not state what this difference is, but the reader should keep in mind that the Japanese, Germans and Italians are common enemies to both white and black America at the start of World War II.

Cassie and her family understand what war will mean, basing their thinking on the results of World War I, which ended 24 years earlier. World War II will last years longer, cost many more American lives and mark the beginning of the Cold War. It will also lead the way out of legally enforced segregation and into greater civil rights for blacks. While the Logan family contemplates the fates of their sons, no positive results can be seen from waging war. They have just buried Clarence and do not know who else will come home to his same, final resting place.