During the time of World War II, there was a huge decrease in income. Most African Americans were working for the white man. Most worked as maids or chauffeurs due to lack of education. In Hansberry’s play, Ruth ironed clothes for a living, Mama cleaned houses, and Walter drove white men around. All three have one thing in common, the work for white people. Even though there wasn’t slavery at the time, many still worked under the whites. As we read the play, we start to see that there is a big economic issue that Younger family is dealing with. After the death of Mr. Younger, Mrs. Younger became the head of the house. About fifty five percent of all African Americans in 1959 were affected by poverty (Dawson 28).Walter, Ruth, and Mama put
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There was still racial discrimination going on, even after the New Deal was passed in the 1930s. The New Deal had a portion which focused on the job ranking of African Americans. A person could not be turned away for a job due to their skin color .This fell apart in the 1950s (Goulbourne 194). White people have always seen black people as economically under them, so due the past economic situation, Hansberry shows that there still wasn’t a big advancement in the lives of most African Americans. African Americans faced an economic hardship, and this was clearly projected when Ruth refuses to give Travis 50 cents. Travis says and tries to explain that the money is for school, but Ruth still refuses because she believes they do not have the money. Not only can we see in this situation that the family is finically struggling , but also when an argument breaks out between Walter and Beneatha , we figure out Travis is sleeping on the living room couch due to the lack of space. African Americans were paid less than the average white man. The Jim Crow laws actually played a role in what most African Americans were not receiving high paying jobs. In an unwritten law, blacks were not allowed to work in high-skilled fields or have top operating
There was still racial discrimination going on, even after the New Deal was passed in the 1930s. The New Deal had a portion which focused on the job ranking of African Americans. A person could not be turned away for a job due to their skin color .This fell apart in the 1950s (Goulbourne 194). White people have always seen black people as economically under them, so due the past economic situation, Hansberry shows that there still wasn’t a big advancement in the lives of most African Americans. African Americans faced an economic hardship, and this was clearly projected when Ruth refuses to give Travis 50 cents. Travis says and tries to explain that the money is for school, but Ruth still refuses because she believes they do not have the money. Not only can we see in this situation that the family is finically struggling , but also when an argument breaks out between Walter and Beneatha , we figure out Travis is sleeping on the living room couch due to the lack of space. African Americans were paid less than the average white man. The Jim Crow laws actually played a role in what most African Americans were not receiving high paying jobs. In an unwritten law, blacks were not allowed to work in high-skilled fields or have top operating