Raisin In The Sun Segregation

1219 Words3 Pages

The South in Camouflage Embedded into African-American history, is the great migration to the north. A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African-American family, the Younger family, and their struggle of life in the north. The family continues to struggle due to their financial situation, and due to racial injustice. They want to live life just like any other successful person. But with Ruth and Mama having domestic work as a job, and Walter’s job as a chauffeur . The great migration was caused by the thought that the north due to the issues of employment, housing, and similarities to life in the south. Employment discrimination existed in the north, as it is shown through Walter’s job as a chauffeur. This is a problem …show more content…

However, one particular way stands out the most. The subtlety of racism in the north. The film and book both reflect on this idea. A ‘promised land’ is what the North was labeled as, a place where Blacks had freedom. Where they could pursue their dreams, where they could make the racial boundaries of the South a thing of the past. What we come to find is that not only are there separations still intact, but they are portrayed much more subtlely in the North. Mama cites how life for Blacks use to be running from the KKK and not getting lynched, but what Walter and his generation deals with is ‘nothing like it.’ (For context, please refer to the play script) During a scene of Walter speaking with Bobo near their cars, a police officer steps in and demands the two gentlemen to return to their cars (insinuating they’re loitering) just to hand Bobo a ticket. In contrast, using Mama’s example: The KKK would lynch you for looking at a White woman. The main focus is that the situations are so subtly similar due to the constant efforts to pressure African-Americans. Examples like these strongly connect to a segment from “The African-Americans” where the narrator covers violence towards Blacks. The people who ordered Mr. Lindner to carry out the task that he did embodies everything wrong with the north. It is unjust, it is unkind, and it is most importantly, non inclusive. White characters in the play never express their feelings of acceptance towards people of color. They even make conscious efforts to stop equality in the North as well, by using loopholes like calling themselves the C.P.I.A.. Because of these constant efforts to allow people of color to enjoy life like anyone should be able to, it just doesn’t give them a fair chance at achieving their

Open Document