assignment

Student’s First Name Student’s Last Name

Dr. Robin Nealy

ENGL 1302

Racism in “A raisin in the sun”

Race refers to the skin color of individuals which is based on physical and social qualities which some individuals share. Racial discrimination refers to when people are treated in an undesirable way just because of their skin color. Racial discrimination means that some people of a certain color do not get equal rights and equal access to services such as healthcare, education, food and other basic necessities. In most cases it’s the blacks, Latinos and other people of color that get to experience racial discrimination and this is because they are a minority in the society. A raisin in the sun is a story which talks about the Youngers; an African American family that is made up of five individuals living in a small apartment in Chicago. The story talks about the struggles which the family have to go through while interacting with white people where they get to experience racial discrimination.

A raisin in the sun is set in a location where the Blacks despite not being separated from the whites get to experience racial discrimination. The Youngers family get to experience racial discrimination all through the play. The family members get to experience racism each on their own way. The Youngers family all had dreams of making the best of their poor lives. Walter who is the main character in the story has to deal with most of the racial discrimination issues himself. The family had just lost their dad and things had started becoming hard for the family (Cabat). Racial discrimination is advanced by the whites in the society in various aspects.

One of the aspects which demonstrates racial prejudice is the issue of housing in the play. When it comes to housing there are certain features which one looks for in a house so that they can feel that they are comfortable and have an access to the necessities and amenities needed. The housing industry shows racism in the play and this is because of the discrepancies which existed between the cost charged for the whites and the blacks and also a discrepancy in the location in which the houses are situated (Harris). The family was living in a small apartment and needed to move to a better house. When Mama was looking for a house that they could all live in she decided to settle for a house in a white dominated neighborhood.

Walter and Ruth are very shocked when they learn that their mother chose a house which is in a white neighborhood. Their concern was mainly because they felt that living in a house which is situated in a White neighborhood would mean that their lives were at risk and this shows that during that time the Blacks had intense fear of interacting with the Whites all because the Whites did not want to be associated with Blacks. When they asked Mama why she had gotten the house, she responded, “them houses they put up for colored in the areas way out seem to cost twice as much as other houses, I did the best I could” (Hansberry). This shows the struggles which the family had in getting basic needs such as housing.

Mama also notes that the houses meant for the colored people were located in areas which were segregated showing that the Blacks did not have any freedom to live in any houses which they chose to. The Blacks had to pay for twice as much for houses which had similar features as those which were occupied by the whites and this shows that they were discriminated against. If there was no racial discrimination then there would be freedom of people to live in any areas which they wanted to (Smith). The family in an attempt to challenge the racial prejudices decided that they were going to move in to the house.

When the Youngers get to the house in Clayborne Park the Whites were disgusted by their presence there and wanted them to move away from the neighborhood. The Clybourne Park Improvements Association also went ahead to make the family an offer that they would pay them money so that they would move out of the neighborhood. This shows that the level of discrimination was too much that the association felt that having the Youngers in the neighborhood was not good for business meaning that they would lose some Whites that were uncomfortable with the presence of the Younger family in the neighborhood.

HansBerry although the story expresses his desire to see that the Blacks started their own entrepreneurial activities and this is because he wants to see that the Blacks become independent and are able to even achieve as much as the Whites were able to achieve. Ruth talks about the dream which Walter had of starting a business. Mama says, "We ain't no business people, Ruth. We just plain working folks…" (Hansberry). This shows that the Blacks had a place in the society and the sad thing is that the Blacks had somehow accepted that they could not achieve what the Whites were able to. By Mama saying that they were not business people and just plain working forks it implies that the Blacks did not get to become bosses but had to work below the Whites (Cabat). One of the best ways to succeed is to employ oneself and being an employer means that the journey to wealth and riches was going to take longer (Smith). Walter had dreams and despite Ruth believing in the dreams their Mama kept reminding them that being Black meant that they could not achieve some things.

Karl Linder who is a religious leader in the play also shows racism and showed the Youngers that they were undeserving to be part of the Clayborne Park neighborhood. Karl Linder tells the Youngers, “Most of the trouble exists since most people do not sit down and talk among each other” (Hansberry). However, he sadly goes ahead to warn the family that they would be in physical danger if they decided to go ahead and live in the neighborhood. His desire to keep the Youngers away from Clayborne Park shows what Mama referred to as, “they were undeserving to walk the earth.” (Hansberry). This phrase shows that the Younger family just because of their skin color did not have the freedom to be part of the neighborhood.

The character of Karl Linder is displayed as racist but he was however pretending that he was supporting the Younger family at first. He says, “I want you to believe me when I say that race prejudice just does not enter into it” (Hansberry). He was attempting to show that his desire to have them stay away from the neighborhood was not because they were Black but Walter decides to kick him out of the house. At this point he got mad and showed them his true colors by saying, “I sure hope you people know what you’re getting into” (Hansberry). This shows that the by living in the White neighborhood, the Younger family was going to face a lot of problems.

Racial discrimination exists when the members of a certain race do not enjoy the rights and freedoms which are enjoyed by the other races. In the play we have seen that the Younger family experience some challenges because they are Black. They are unable to get cheap housing and when they decide to live in a White neighborhood they face a lot of rejection and the Whites want them out of the neighborhood. Despite the dreams which Walter has for himself and his family, he is unable to achieve a lot because of his race.

Works cited

Cabat, Josh. "A Raisin in the Sun and Clybourne Park in Conversation." English

Journal 110.3 (2021): 11-12.

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Concord Theatricals, 1984.

Harris, Reginald. "So Much More Than A Raisin in the Sun." The Gay & Lesbian Review

Worldwide 28.6 (2021): 31-33.

Smith, Judith E. "The Making of A Raisin in the Sun." (2018).