Sara Zavala

Ms. Storer
English 3 Honors
March 13th, 2020
My Biggest Takeaway from A Raisin in the Sun
My biggest takeaway from A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is the split and
segregation within races. Whether it is job opportunities, the purchasing of real estate and social
situations such as neighborhood appearances. These are the small and big situations which
portray the social differences between the African Americans and white people.
Throughout my life I am grateful that I have not been victim to unfortunate situations of
racism or segregation as a Mexican attending school in San Diego. Looking back to the 1950s
where racism in all of its forms is evidently present I appreciate I never experienced that, even
though I have been witness to such situations and have heard various events of people being
segregated, because of their race, color, or even the language they speak. Being witness to
situations like those and having heard stories of them in present day makes me wonder if all of
the struggle we once went through a long time ago were all done in vain, even if it is African
Americans, Latinos, or Asians, etc. Even though racism and segregation is supposedly eradicated
the difference of social status is unseeingly split in race, job opportunities and positions are given
to people who “look like the job” and not because of their skills, (where people will hire white
folks rather than having an African American fit for the job) or when going to a neighborhood
that is supposedly ethnically diverse, one only encounters white people living in the
neighborhood or vice e versa.
When reading about the Younger family in the play, it is sad to read about the racism and
segregation they suffered from attempting to buy a house. When Lena made the down payment,
the neighborhood representative approached them and explained to them they would break the
neighborhood’s stereotype and façade. In page 118 of the play Linder speaks, “Negro families
are happier when they live in their own communities” (Hansberry 118). In pains me to know
hard working people were rejected from something hard earning and just, as buying a house.
People were segregated and put into stereotypes. Sadly, things like that still happen today even
though it is not as prominent as it used to be, there are still unspoken rules in society regarding
race. Addressing a current delicate subject in the United States, African Americans experienced a
prominent yet quiet form of racism when it came down to the following of the law. Even though
the United States proudly declares racism has been eradicated there are small cases that can still
be seen through society, for example the case of Michael Smith in San Francisco where he was
unlawfully arrested because of the accusing of a white man due to an argument provoked by the
white man. This was not something the Youngers experience, but yet it is similar the Youngers
experienced when they were buying their house, they were told they should move out, because it
would disturb the white families that lived in the neighborhood.
Looking back to the events that have happened in the United States and the circumstances
the Younger family faced in the play, I am thankful I have never been victim of the segregation.
The Youngers experienced racism in something lawful and right as buying a house. This play
portrays the privilege white people prominently portrayed and had, and the difficulty African
Americans experienced during that time, and maybe still do now in days. I wonder if one day we
will be able to say all forms of racism and segregation will end.