Sugar Cane Alley's alley's main theme, I believe, is to depict José's transition from the poor to wealth, the powerless to the powerful and most importantly, overcoming of the social barriers between the white and black population. One scene comes to mind when trying to show the success he had in the aforementioned areas, and that is the first time he travels to the Fort-De-France to continue his education. The scene is full of symbols of him rising through the levels of society and on the way of becoming an affluent, successful member of the community.
The beginning of the scene comes with a clear depiction of his new status. In it, José's is dressed in a white, spotless suit completed with an equally pristine top hat. Previously, only white men were seen in such luxurious clothing, an example being the overseer on his horse watching over the laborers in the fields. This alteration of his appearance is definitely a sign of his development as he progresses to the upper class. Another symbol of his power comes when he arrives at the Fort-De-France. There is a quick scene of José staring down at a little boy polishing shoes for other people. When thinking back, José used to be exactly like the little boy when he polished shoes in exchange for lunch. Now, however, he is standing over his little boy showing that he has risen above his former self. The sounds in the scene is also significant. Previously, the movie had little music soundtrack, and there would almost always be yelling and grunting in the background when José was in the field with the others. This gloomy atmosphere is disrupted in this scene by an upbeat soundtrack playing the background; it echoes his new found happiness and excitement to exploring new places and going about the path to reach his full potential.
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