Character Analysis
Sydney identifies himself as a very proud black man. He has no time for hoodlums like Son and basically thinks that he is the most dignified black man in the world. Or in the narrator's words, "He had left [Baltimore] to go to Philadelphia and there he became one of those industrious Philadelphia Negroes—the proudest people in the race" (2.29). At the end of the day, though, Sydney is still the servant of a rich white man in the eyes of someone like Son.
Sydney subscribes to the idea that to living with dignity and humility is the best thing you can do, but Valerian pushes him to the breaking point when he allows Son to stay in the house as a guest of honor. Sydney has worked tirelessly for Valerian since the man was a baby, and he is sick and tired of being taken for granted, especially when Valerian starts treating an intruder like Son with more respect than he treats Sydney: "Sydney's jawbones were still working back and forth the next morning as he told his wife and niece about putting silk pajamas out for [Son]" (4.86).
Sydney finally vents his pent-up frustration at Christmas dinner when he calls Valerian out for being a fickle, hypocritical jerk. But even after this blowup, Sydney remains loyal and continues to serve Valerian. The major difference, though, is that Valerian has been shattered by the news that his wife Margaret used to abuse his son Michael when Michael was a baby. Old and feeble, Valerian becomes more and more dependent on Sydney. As time goes on, it becomes Sydney who starts giving the orders around the house. Valerian tries to put up a fight, but no one listens to him.
The reversal of power between Valerian and Sydney might look like a nice ending for Sydney. But like his wife, Sydney is ultimately crushed at being deserted by his niece Jade. He has worked hard his entire life so that Jade could go to a nice school and have all the best opportunities in life. But now that she's had these opportunities, Jade wants to pursue her own ambitions instead of taking care of Sydney and Ondine in their old age. Like Ondine, Sydney ends the book feeling bitter about his betrayal by his niece.
Timeline