Racism In America Analysis

Institutional racism is defined as a form of racism that is expressed in social, political, and economic institutions, discriminating against a certain group of people based on their race. Throughout the history of America institutional racism has been a major issue and key factor to the limited success of black men and women in this country. White privilege has played a major role in the advancement of white over blacks, Northern negroes were made aware that they lived in inferiority to whites (Liparim). Blacks knew that there were goals that white people could get handed, that black people could never reach. Blacks were not able to access the same resources as whites due to being socially and economically discriminated against. Social and …show more content…
Mama, Beneatha, Ruth, Walter, and Travis all live in this small two bedroom apartment in the south side of Chicago, which is a predominately black neighborhood. After the civil war most blacks who migrated up north ended up in the southside of Chicago causing an over population. The family along with many others in the area lived in a small kitchenette style apartment that was overly cramped. Travis was forced to sleep in the family’s living room and use the couch as a bed, while Mama and Beneatha shared a room and a bed, leaving Walter and Ruth to a room of their own. We are immediately aware of the financial hardship the family and blacks of the area are dealing with. In order to understand the significance of buying a house, which is where the institutional racism comes into and the most, we must understand how these people lived. The apartments did not have bathrooms, rather a community bathroom for the entire hall, which was almost always occupied. The complex had rats and roaches and was extremely in need of maintenance attention. The Younger family was in fast need of a change. Walter Lee hated his job, he went on to say, “ A job? Mama a job? I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine and I say ‘Yes sir, no sir?’ Mama that ain’t no kind of job… that ain’t nothing at all?”(Hansberry 73). Mama who is a nanny that in the original screenplay is based on the ideal typical mammy image, even mentions returning to work for Mrs. Wilkerson. With three incomes, Mama, Walter and Ruth combined cannot afford to get a better house in a nice neighborhood. Beneatha is introduced to her first conflict as her and Walter Lee go back and forth starting with Walter Lee’s criticism on wanting to become a doctor. Walter Lee goes on to say, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor. If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people- then go be a nurse