Raisin Blog Post 4

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

EXTERNAL CONFLICT: conflicts existing between two people, between a person and nature or machine, or between a person and a whole society.

I believe one of the external conflicts in this play is racism. It is shown a lot through out whether it be through what someone said or they way one of the characters acted. The main time it comes out, though, is when Mama is looking to buy a house for the family. She puts a down payment on one that is in the center of Clybourne Park, which is an area where mainly white people live. They are confronted with the decision of whether to stay or be persecuted for the color of their skin in their own neighborhood. Mr. Lindner, from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, pays the family a little visit. Mr. Lindner says, "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" (Hansberry 118). He is basically saying that, because the family is black, they should stay in their own communities because the people of Clybourne Park do not want them there. Later we find out that the Youngers do in fact move despite the racial prejudices against them.