The Raisin in our shade

For the past couple weeks we have been researching and discussing racial history in Chicago. We had the opportunity to discuss prejudice and how to legally deal with it along with a discussion on why the south side housing is cheaper and how black people have been confined to the area. We also spent the time reading A raisin in the sun to get further context of the past. This project we made a letter from the PoV of on of the main characters to state our opinion about one of the main plot points, If the black family should move into a white neighborhood. I decided to take the side of moving into the neighborhood for the project. I made this letter from the PoV of the youngest of the main characters Travis.

Hey Dad,

It's me, Travis. I want you to at least listen to me. I think we should move into Grandmama's house.
I think we should be the first black family to move into Clybourne Park. We can make ourselves part
of the community. You owe it to Mama because it's her money. We also owe it to ourselves because “I
always wanted to live in a house”(Hansberry; 561, Act 2). If we want to live a better life, we have to
move out of the south side.

Starting off, we should be the first black family to move into Clybourne Park. We are a strong family
that has gone through many hardships. We have survived and because of us surviving, “We are very
proud people” (Hansberry; 585, Act 3). Us Youngers have the power to break the color barrier.  We
won't let some neighborhood people stop us. Besides somebody has to be the first, so why can’t it be
us?

You said, “We come from people that have a lot of pride”(Hansberry 585, Act 3). The most shameful
thing we can do is admit defeat,  isolate ourselves, and let some neighborhood welcoming committee
control us. How can we be prideful in these shameful conditions? We can make ourselves part of the
Clybourne Park community and live a better life. If we at least try, I'm sure that someone will accept
us and either way we can power through this.

When Grandma first bought the house, she said, “Well-what do you think your grandmama gone and
done that money...She went out and she bought a house...It's going to be yours when you get to be a
man.” (Hansberry; 561, Act 2).  She wants us to live a better life in a better house. At least mom and I
were excited to move out of this “rat trap.” Grandmama didn't mean to ruin your dreams.

We are strong enough to be the first black family in Clybourne Park. We can and will fit into this
community. We have to do it if we want to live a better life. Like mama said, “Life don’t have to be like
this. I mean sometimes people can do things so that things are better…You remember how we used
to talk when Travis was born…about the way we were going to live…the kind of house.” We can still
live a better life. Dreams can change.  And that’s what I think. 

Your son,

Travis

“A Raisin in the Sun.” Time-Life Films, Inc., 1962.