Journal #3 Revised (A Raisin in the Sun)

“Standing out in the Crowd”

By: Bridget Robinson

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            "A Raisin in the Sun" is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry that takes place in the Southside of Chicago during the 1950's and is about a lower-class African American family and the struggles that they face in making an important decision. The main characters in this story include; Mama, Walter, Beneatha, Travis, and Ruth. After the father figure passed away, the family is informed that they are in line to receive a $10,000 insurance check in regards to net worth. The family becomes excited but is then faced with a very difficult decision which is how they should spend the money. Each member in the family has their own aspirations and ideas about how to spend the money. Mama, had dreams with her husband to buy a house and thrive in comfortable living and with this said, Ruth agrees with Mama. Walter had his own unique thoughts and longed to open up his own liquor store with his friends. The reason behind this is Walter believes it will help to end the family's financial instability and bring an economic constant into their lives. However, Beneatha is studying to become a doctor and can use all the financial support she can get, arguing that the money should go towards her education - she also wishes her family would not be so set on joining the "white world". As the play progresses, Ruth discovers she is pregnant but is worried about telling her family because of the financial strain she fears will occur and considers having an abortion. Mama ends up placing a down payment on the home and many people in the neighborhood become skeptical about living with those of the African American race. This results in the Clybourne Park Improvement Association sending in a man, Mr. Linder, to their home in hopes of buying them out of the property so they will no longer move into the neighborhood. After refusing the money from Mr. Linder, Walter also loses the rest of the money to Willy Harris who runs off with the money after convincing Walter to invest in a liquor store. This does not go over well with the family and, after a few internal conflicts with the family regarding Walter and his wife, they proceed to move-in anyways. Beneatha is proposed to by her Nigerian boyfriend and the family moves out of their apartment and fulfill their dreams regardless the racism in the neighborhood, reoccurring finical struggles, and having to be successful on their own.

            Overall, I believe this play shows the true colors of this time period and shows when integrity really meant something to one's self and others. An underlying message that is shown throughout this play is to stick with your gut and stay true to who you are even when times become hard. This play exemplifies the difficulties of living in colored communities and how discrimination was so common for African Americans and why it was so shocking when families, such as the Youngers, decided to go their own way and create a new and bright future for themselves. Fear should not stop anyone from following their dreams and pursing what is best for themselves and others. When I was growing up, one of my friends was African American and her dad used to tell us stories about how when we was growing up, he would face racial challenges. For instance, in school the kids would sometimes try to bribe him out of clubs being that segregation was still slightly highlighted in the communities he grew up in. This play represented the future for African Americans and their exploration of their newly founded rights.