Erin Clifford
In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry focuses on an African American family going through all of the battles they face in life with their given circumstances. The Younger family has a lot of struggles due to being an African American family living in Chicago in the 1950s. Many African American families during this time faced lower living conditions, and the Younger family was no exception to this. The Younger family consists of: Mama, Walter, Ruth, Beneatha, and Travis. All five of them were living in a small apartment, and had to share a bathroom with another family. “At left, a door leads to a bedroom which is shared by Mama and her daughter, Beneatha. At right, opposite, is a second room which serves as a bedroom for Walter and his wife, Ruth” (Hansberry 24). This shows that the apartment they all share is much too small. There aren’t even enough bedrooms for Travis to have a bed to sleep on, he sleeps on the couch in the living room.
When Mama got the insurance money, she saw an opportunity to do something beneficial for the whole family. She wanted to put a down payment on a house, it showed that the family was going to have more and get something they deserved to have. Almost all of the Younger family was excited to get a new house, with more room, and a yard, and something that was really their own. However, Walter was not very thrilled about the house because he wanted to be able to spend the insurance money on his dream, but mama went out and spent some of it on something for everyone. Walter did eventually come around and want to move along with the rest of the family.
Getting the house came with some struggles throughout the story. The majority of the problems arose, most likely because of the location of the house. The house was in Clybourne Park, which was an all-white neighborhood. Karl Linder was part of the Clybourne welcoming committee, and one day he went to the Younger’s apartment to talk. “…that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities” (Hansberry 118). Karl Linder went over to the Youngers’ apartment and tried to sound like he was on their side, before he broke the bad news that the Clybourne community did not want the Younger family to move into their neighborhood. The Younger family did not take what Linder said very well. When Linder acted like he was on their side, it seemed as though he was starting to gain the trust and respect of Walter and Beneatha, then Linder told them that they shouldn’t move into their new house, and betrayed the Younger family. He tried to bribe the family with more money than they paid for the house in return of staying where they were at. Linder tried to be civil about giving the family the bad news, but the message was degrading to the family still. Despite the Clybourne community not welcoming the Younger family they still chose to move out of the old apartment and into the nice house, that is more fitting for a whole family to be in. When the family decided they would still be moving into the house they saw Karl Linder one more time. Linder thought they would be taking the offer of money instead of moving, but that is not what happened. Linder even tried to convince Mama to override Walter’s statement that they were moving. It almost seemed as though Linder was threating the Younger family about moving in “I sure hope you people know what you’re getting into” (Hansberry 149). The way that Linder made this statement to the family before he left tells us that maybe the community is going to be planning something bad towards the family once they move in, to make them regret moving into the neighborhood. It is very inspiring to see that the Younger family was able to stand their ground and do what they wanted, even though the odds were against the family getting this house.
Discussion Questions:
- How would you feel about with living with so many people in such a small space?
- What would you do if someone came to you and tried to bribe you into not living somewhere because of your culture? Do you agree with what the Younger family did in regards to moving to Clybourne Park?
Work Cited:
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi, Erin! I really enjoyed your post and agree that the new house came along with a lot of obstacles that the Younger family had to face. The Younger family wanted to move out of poverty and live a better life. In their apartment, they had limited space and were forced to share a bathroom with another family. After Mama received the insurance money, she knew that it was her chance to do the right thing for her family and to move into a house. Moving to their new home was not so easy for the Younger family. At first, we see that Walter was not so happy with Mama’s decision. Walter says to Mama, “you run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need me to say it was all right for? (Bitterly, to hurt her as deeply as he knows is possible) So you butchered up a dream of mine-you-who always talking ‘bout your children’s dreams..” (Hansberry 95). It is evident that at first, Walter was dissatisfied with Mama’s decision. Walter felt that his dreams were crushed, but eventually we see that Walter agrees to move in with the rest of his family. I like that you pointed out that the majority of the problems arose due to the location of their house. Mama says I tried to “find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family” (Hansberry 93). Mama tried to find the best place for the least amount of money, therefore, she bought a house in Clybourne Park which was an all-white neighborhood. Karl Linder, from the Clybourne welcoming committee went to the Younger’s apartment to talk, stating “what do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren’t wanted and where some elements-well-people can get awful worked up when they feel that their whole way of life and everything they’ve ever worked for it threatened” (Hansberry 119). We can see that the Youngers were not welcomed into this community due to the color of their skin. Karl Linder even says the association is willing to buy their new house from them at a financial gain to the Youngers, but the family ends up declining this offer. Ultimately, we see that the Youngers do not let racism get in the way of their dreams.
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hey there Erin, great post! One part I really enjoyed was you saying that Mr. Linder seemed to be almost threatening the family with one of his last lines. I thought it was an intriguing idea I didn’t see the first time. Thinking about your question regarding living in such a small space with multiple people, I believe that I would feel pressured living that way. One reason I say this is that at the start of the play Walter mentions Travis, stating that, “Now what is that boy doing in the bathroom all this time? He just going to have to have to start getting up earlier” (Hansberry 26). Since multiple people have to share the same living arrangements, some conflicts begin to occur like who can use the shower. In this situation I feel I wouldn’t be able to relax in that environment because I would feel that I would either be in the way or constantly inconveniencing others in my family or other families.
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi Erin! I really loved the way you presented your blog as it clearly states the situation that the Younger family is in. This family is clearly struggling as many African American families did at this time. It is saddening to see that Linder is encouraging this family to stay away from Clybourne park because he feels that they would be better off shown with the quote, “..at the moment the overwhelming majority of our people out there feel that people get along better, take more of a common interest in the life of the community, when they share a common background.” (Hansberry 117-118) . Linder tries to justify himself by saying “race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it” and “Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities.” (Hansberry 118) however it is clear that this may be coming off as almost a threat to the Younger family and it is impressive to see them stand their ground. If I was living in such a small space with so many people, it would be overwhelming and take away my privacy which is very important especially as a young adult. If someone tried to bribe me into living somewhere else because of my culture I would be furious. I feel it is very disturbing and unsettling. I would stand my ground and stick up for myself because my culture does not define how much equality I should have as a person. The younger family is very strong and I 100% agree with what they are doing. Standing their ground and continuing the move to Clybourne park shows how much courage and strength they have. Racial discrimination is never okay and the Younger family is facing and fighting this problem in full force.
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi Erin! I loved your blog post, I’m so happy that you used it to talk about The Younger family moving into the new house. Not only just the fact that the youngers had moved into a new house, but also the struggles that came up with it. Obviously, the fact that the younger family all lived in the same little apartment was not by choice, I can’t imagine having to live in such a confined space with your entire family. I can’t even imagine being Travis not having a room or even a bed to call my own. I would not enjoy living in such a confined space with my entire family. I love the scene where Walter finally stands up to Lindner and holds his ground by declining fleeing the new house in exchange for more money. This scene really shows Walters personal growth, in the begging of the book Walter would of took the money instead of the house, and probably would have lost it on one of his “get rich quick schemes”. In this Scene Walter says to Lindner “Never mind how I feel-you got any more to say ‘bout how people ought to sit down and talk to each other?… get out of my house, man.” He didn’t let anyone deprive him of what their family has worked so hard for.
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi Erin! I loved your post and am so happy you used it to talk about the controversy the Younger family faced by moving into the new house. I feel they were put in such a tough situation in that time when everything was still segregated. The way that Karl Lindner acted like their friend, but was just trying to get them to leave his neighborhood was horrible. If someone tried to bribe me into moving, I would stand my ground. The house that I was buying is the one that I want and nothing could change that. I one hundred percent agree with the Younger’s actions in this scene. By standing their ground and not taking the bribe, they helped themselves with their American Dream. By getting that house, they made it easier on their family and made opportunities greater because of the neighborhood they moved into. They could have easily taken the bribe and made their life easier in society’s eyes, but they chose to stand their ground for the sake of their family’s wellbeing. Karl Lindner’s argument for them to move was very segregational even though he said that it was not. He said, “I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it….. that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities” (Hansberry Act 2, Scene 3). By saying this he is being racially prejudice and wants to keep his neighborhood full of white families. The strength of the Younger Family to react the way they did toward Lindner and not giving in shows how much they believe that this particular house will be very helpful to their success. They worked so hard for that house and no one was going to take that away from them.
Works Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi Erin
I do feel like Mr. Linder was diffidently not the most welcoming welcome comity member but before he arrived at the Youngers apartment, I felt like there was some regret from one person in particular. And to me that was Mama “One of you all better call the moving people and tell’em not to come” (Hansberry 139). I feel like it wasn’t until Walter told his family that he was going to give into Mr. Linder that Mama came around to going though with moving. When Travis is asked by Ruth to separate from the negotiations Mama tells Travis to stay so Walter would feel guilty about giving in “…you make him understand what your doing” (Hansberry 147). So, in my eyes the main reason why the Younger family decided to go through with moving was Walter wanting to show Travis to never back down then the rest of the family backed him up.
Scott Van Etten
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hey Erin!! I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I felt that the Younger family faced a lot of challenges living in their small apartment with five individuals living in it all at once. When Mama finally received the insurance money, she was ready to buy a house that better suited her family. Although she was trying to do the right thing and better her family’s life, she still faced challenges as she bought a nice house in an all-inclusive white neighborhood. A man by the name of Karl Linder on the Clybourne welcoming committee went to the Younger’s apartment to welcome them into the community. Once Mr. Linder realized they were African American he stated, “what do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren’t wanted…..” (Hansberry 119). This part of the quote stood out to me as it resembles the fact that the Youngers seem to never be accepted. Whether people are making assumptions off their wealth or race they never seem to fit in and get treated equally. The family ended up not moving into this house because of the verbal attack Karl Linder caused based on his racist ideologies. I personally would feel extremely overwhelmed if I had to live in such a small space with a lot of people especially since I am an only child. It’s one thing being forced into a small and poor area but not being allowed to better yourself or family in to live in a better place because of one’s race or physical appearance is inhumane. Therefore, I support that the younger family declined that house offer in order to better their future.
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi Erin! I think your blog is well thought out and I like that you talked about the struggles for the Younger family moving into a new house in a white neighborhood. To answer you first discussion question, I live in a family of 5 and our house is kind of small for us. We have one full bathroom and sometimes it is hard to coordinate around other people in my family. In my house, we have 3 bedrooms and I share a room with my sister. At times, sharing a room is fine but other times it is difficult because of sharing the same space. I do school work in my room and my sister is a senior in high school so hopefully things will be better after she goes to college. Just like you said about the family sharing the bathroom with another family, my family has to share the full bathroom. One thing that I liked that you said was that Walter came around to the idea of a new house so the family had more space. The quote in the text that stands out to me is when Walter is talking to Lindner and he says “and we decided to move into your house…” (pg. 148). This quote stood out to me because Walter was against the idea of getting a new house but then he tells Lindner that they are getting the new house and they will try to be good neighbors. Walter says, “we don’t want your money” (pg.148). This shows that Walter is taking a stand and that they are going to live in the new house in the white neighborhood and the family is going to be the change that their society needed at the time.
Hi Erin!! I liked how you talked about the Younger family moving into a neighborhood that is new to them. This is something in this piece of literature that connects to something that happens in everyday life. Some families have to move for a job opportunity, a bigger space, financial issues. This is something that lets the reader connect to the text. When a person is living somewhere for a long time, it lets them adapt to the environment. They know the nearby stores, the neighbors, and the morals of the neighborhood. Once they move into a different neighborhood it is as if their world has changed. Everything is different and it is something that the people who had moved have to adapt to. As stated in the text, “what do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren’t wanted” (pg 119). This quote inherently reveals that when moving into a new neighborhood, especially one that is a different race from yourself, it is to be assumed you are not wanted. I personally do not have the challenge of living with a lot of people because my family is so small, however, I do have the experience with moving. My family recently bought a house in Florida and the difference between Florida and New York, and being in a different environment just made me feel like I do not belong there. Also when Hurricane Sandy hit, I had to move into a new neighborhood until my house in New York got fixed. I felt as if I didn’t know anyone and it was hard for me to branch out.
Work Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.
Hi Erin! This was a great blog post, and you brought up some great discussion questions. As for your second question, the Younger family was in a very cramped and small apartment. When the opportunity came that they could move into a bigger home, they leaped at that opportunity; However, when Mr. Linder came to speak to them, he was definitely not the most welcoming person. Mr. Linder expressed the concerns of the community not wanting a Black family moving into their neighborhood, and even was going to bride them to not move into the neighborhood. If someone was trying to bribe me into not moving into my new home, I would be angry, and that would personally make me not want to move into a neighborhood where I did not feel welcomed. Whenever Mr. Linder refers to the Youngers, he refers to them as “you people,” which essentially takes away a sense of identity. Ultimately, after the topic of the bribe to not move into the neighborhood is finished, Mr. Linder says, “Well, I don’t understand why you people are reacting this way. What do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren’t wanted and where some elements…” (Hansberry 119). However, in regards to the second part of your questions, I agree with what the Younger family did in regards to moving to Clyborne Park. I think they did the right thing, because this family worked hard for their dreams and did not let the racism of Mr. Linder and the neighbors of Clyborne Park get in their way.
Hi Erin, I loved how you talked about the obstacles that the younger family faced when moving into a new house. to answer your first question, if I was to live with so many people in a house I feel like I would get lost because I feel like there would be so many things happening that I wouldn’t know where to focus on in the house. To answer your second question, I don’t think I would let anyone bribe me into living in a different community based on my culture because in regards to this family, they saw a better opportunity moving into a different house and they took action. i personally would be offended if someone was to make me move because of my culture. ” I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities.” (page 117-118) This quote from Mr.Lindner shows reveals that racism and segregation would continue to occur since the people in Clybourne park would not accept people of color living in their neighborhood. However the younger family, especially mama as work hard to achieve their dream of living in a nice house.