A Raisin in the Sun: the Younger Family

Meghan Feenstra

August 16, 2010

English Honor 9
A Raisin in the Sun

Picture yourself as a member of the Younger family. You live in a small house, two bedrooms and a bathroom you share with other families. It’s hard to imagine 4 adults and l adolescent living in these conditions, but its how the Younger family lived. When the story begins the younger family is anticipating a huge insurance check from the passing of their grandpa. Living in a racist community, such as the south side of Chicago, affected the Younger family in how they made decisions, thought of people of their own race, and how they treated people of a different race. Living in a time of racism took its toll on the Younger family in how they made their choices. Because no one believed that colored people could do anything in America, the Younger family felt that they needed to prove that they could. In the eyes of Walter, the man of the house, once you received money you spent it. Some may say that this is because they have lived in poverty; therefore, they just always want to spend money right away. However, I think that they lived this way because they want to prove to the other races that they can make something of themselves. The Younger family makes their choices hoping that the racist views on them will change to something more positive. Because of the racism towards colored people, they often feel like African-Americans are too intimidated to do something more with their lives. “Why? You want to know why? ‘Cause we all tied up in a race of people that don’t know how to do nothing but moan, pray and have babies”. Walter sees his race this way because of society. By society I am referring to the racist people of their world. He doesn’t think this way because they told him to; only because, people sometimes can’t think for themselves. Others put thoughts into his head. This can be a good or bad situation. Sometimes it’s inspiring; while, at other times, it can make you feel worse about yourself. For example, Beneatha believes she can do anything; she can be a doctor, go to Africa, or be a doctor in Africa. This drive comes from not having anyone believe you can do it. On the other hand, after Walter hearing many racist white people not having faith that African-Americans can become something, he started looking down on his own race. The Younger family is also racist towards white people. “[Beneatha] what they think we going to do – eat ‘em? [Ruth]No, honey, marry ‘em”. This family doesn’t think highly of white people because they don’t want an African-American family in their neighborhood. The people of Clybourne Park are worried about integration, so much that they are willing to payoff the Youngers to not move into their newly bought house. The fact that they would go that far just to keep the neighborhoods segregated doesn’t give white people a good image in the eyes of the Youngers. “[Beneatha] What they think we going to do – eat ‘em? [Ruth] No, honey, marry ‘em”. Though this quote may be true it is still racist. By saying this Ruth is assuming that the only reason they care so much to have the Youngers not living in there neighborhood is because they don’t want the races to marry. Another time that they are racist towards white people is when Linder tries to talk them out of them moving in to Clybourne Park. Though Linder is very rude, even when he first arrives they are rude just because he is a well dressed white man. The Younger family is very affected by racism. They made very poor decisions because they were treated poorly. Buy the end of the story there trouble only brought them closer together. Racism affected the younger family in the way they made choices, treated their race, and other races.