A House To Keep
Drama: "A House To Keep" |
| (Dtcab.com, 2020) |
As the school year ends, this will (hopfully) be the last AP that I do in quarantine. Despite difficulty, my class and I have worked rigorously through several production scripts including A Dolls House, The Taming Of The Shrew, and A Raisin In The Sun! We had two field experience guests come and speak to us. The first was Ragina Holoway and the second was Joel Hamernick. Unfortunately I was unable to be in class for Ms Holoway but I was able to be there for the interview of Mr Hamernick. He spoke to us about the history concerning ARITS (A Raisin In The Sun), how he lives near their original house, history of red lining, and exactly what it meant for them to be moving into this white neighborhood. In this action project we were asked to make a letter for Walter from one of the other characters, I chose Beneatha. Some writing was done intentionally for character speech purposes.
Dear Walter,
I know I don't write like this to you but even as a sister, I can't look you in the face right now because of what you did. Don't sell the house, you can't give up someone else's dream to save your mistakes. There are more reasons than that. We need to start something; We need to be the first to show that we can challenge the white man's precedent. Next, having this house was our mother's dream! You know she's been getting on in her years so we should be trying to help her live that dream. “I remember just as well as the day me and Big Walter moved in here. Hadn't been married but two weeks and wasn't planning on living here no more than a year. We was going to set away little by little, don't you know, buy a little place out in Morgan Park.” (Hansberry; 540, Act 1)
The last one I'll give you is kind of what I mentioned before, you shouldn’t give up someone else's dream to help your own, especially if it also means giving your pride and dignity by kissing someone's feet. It's fine to work for your dream and take your opportunities except that doesn't include being a sellout.
First, you know no one moves into a white neighborhood because of the threat of neighbors lynchings and burning down houses. I think we should challenge that threat, that precedent. If we can show the white people that we are human too, that we aren't that different then we can change things.”We's ain't gwine come out deh and dirty up yo' white folks neighborhood” (Hansberry; 583, Act 3) If they stop fearing us then we can also show the rest of us that it’s better to work towards equality then staying as we are. If we can’t go in and make peace then we do it loud. Bring people together to fight back in the streets and in the court. You know you don't like the way things are.
Next, Mama has always pushed us to dream big and work toward those dreams. Mama wanted us to dream because her’s wasn’t pheseable. While I dreamed about going to medical school and becoming a doctor and you dreamed about making it big in the business world Mama slaved away to help us get to those dreams. I think that before we go and live our dreams we should let mama live out her’s. “Yes, a fine man- just couldn't never catch up with his dreams, that's all” (Hansberry; 541, Act 1) Is what she said I believe. He couldn’t get his dream but that don't mean that Mama can't either. Don't give up on a dream someone else had.
Last thing I’ll say, sucking up to a white person to only deprive you of your dignity is something I can’t support you doing. We are a proud family, I will not have my brother bowing his head in shame as he asks some white man to forgive him. You said “That white man is going to walk in that door able to write checks for more money than we ever had” (Hansberry; 582, Act 3) which is true, but that don't mean you should take it. Taking that money would mean submitting to the whims and words and powers of a bunch of racists. We can't forget who we are in pursuit of a better life, otherwise it's pointless.
To end it, I’ll summarize what I'm saying. Let us become figures in history, one to change the way things are. Don't let Mama give up on her dream; And finally live in a way to be proud of, hold your head high. You said it yourself “We come from people who had a lot of pride” (Hansberry; 585, Act 3) so represent it. Don't abandon the pride you were brought up in. Anyways those are my thoughts, do what's best for us.
I know I don't write like this to you but even as a sister, I can't look you in the face right now because of what you did. Don't sell the house, you can't give up someone else's dream to save your mistakes. There are more reasons than that. We need to start something; We need to be the first to show that we can challenge the white man's precedent. Next, having this house was our mother's dream! You know she's been getting on in her years so we should be trying to help her live that dream. “I remember just as well as the day me and Big Walter moved in here. Hadn't been married but two weeks and wasn't planning on living here no more than a year. We was going to set away little by little, don't you know, buy a little place out in Morgan Park.” (Hansberry; 540, Act 1)
The last one I'll give you is kind of what I mentioned before, you shouldn’t give up someone else's dream to help your own, especially if it also means giving your pride and dignity by kissing someone's feet. It's fine to work for your dream and take your opportunities except that doesn't include being a sellout.
First, you know no one moves into a white neighborhood because of the threat of neighbors lynchings and burning down houses. I think we should challenge that threat, that precedent. If we can show the white people that we are human too, that we aren't that different then we can change things.”We's ain't gwine come out deh and dirty up yo' white folks neighborhood” (Hansberry; 583, Act 3) If they stop fearing us then we can also show the rest of us that it’s better to work towards equality then staying as we are. If we can’t go in and make peace then we do it loud. Bring people together to fight back in the streets and in the court. You know you don't like the way things are.
Next, Mama has always pushed us to dream big and work toward those dreams. Mama wanted us to dream because her’s wasn’t pheseable. While I dreamed about going to medical school and becoming a doctor and you dreamed about making it big in the business world Mama slaved away to help us get to those dreams. I think that before we go and live our dreams we should let mama live out her’s. “Yes, a fine man- just couldn't never catch up with his dreams, that's all” (Hansberry; 541, Act 1) Is what she said I believe. He couldn’t get his dream but that don't mean that Mama can't either. Don't give up on a dream someone else had.
Last thing I’ll say, sucking up to a white person to only deprive you of your dignity is something I can’t support you doing. We are a proud family, I will not have my brother bowing his head in shame as he asks some white man to forgive him. You said “That white man is going to walk in that door able to write checks for more money than we ever had” (Hansberry; 582, Act 3) which is true, but that don't mean you should take it. Taking that money would mean submitting to the whims and words and powers of a bunch of racists. We can't forget who we are in pursuit of a better life, otherwise it's pointless.
To end it, I’ll summarize what I'm saying. Let us become figures in history, one to change the way things are. Don't let Mama give up on her dream; And finally live in a way to be proud of, hold your head high. You said it yourself “We come from people who had a lot of pride” (Hansberry; 585, Act 3) so represent it. Don't abandon the pride you were brought up in. Anyways those are my thoughts, do what's best for us.
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