Linder from Raisin in the sun

[anthonyjoeseph]

. I would sort of like to explain this thing in my own way. I mean I want to
explain to you in a certain way. Yes. Well. I’m going to try to get right to the point.
I’m sure we’ll all appreciate that in the long run. Well——to get right to
the point I—(A great breath, and he is off at last) I
am sure you people must be aware of some of the
incidents which have happened in various parts of
the city when colored people have moved into
certain areas—(BENEATHA exhales heavily and
starts tossing a piece of fruit up and down in the
air) Well—because we have what I think is going
to be a unique type of organization in American
community life—not only do we deplore that kind
of thing—but we are trying to do something about
it. (BENEATHA stops tossing and turns with a new
and quizzical interest to the man) We feel—
(gaining confidence in his mission because of
the interest in the faces of the people he is
talking to)—we feel that most of the trouble in this
world, when you come right down to it—(He hits
his knee for emphasis)—most of the trouble
exists because people just don’t sit down and talk
to each other. That we
don’t try hard enough in this world to understand the other
fellow’s problem. The other guy’s point of view. Yes—that’s the way we feel out in Clybourne Park.
And that’s why I was elected to come here this afternoon
and talk to you people. Friendly like, you know, the way
people should talk to each other and see if we couldn’t
find some way to work this thing out. As I say, the whole
business is a matter of caring about the other fellow.
Anybody can see that you are a nice family of folks, hard
working and honest I’m sure. (BENEATHA frowns slightly,
quizzically, her head tilted regarding him) Today
everybody knows what it means to be on the outside of
something. And of course, there is always somebody
who is out to take advantage of people who don’t always
understand. Well—you see our community is made up of
people who’ve worked hard as the dickens for years to
build up that little community. They’re not rich and fancy
people; just hard-working, honest people who don’t really
have much but those little homes and a dream of the kind
of community they want to raise their children in. Now, I
don’t say we are perfect and there is a lot wrong in some
of the things they want. But you’ve got to admit that a man, right or wrong, has the right to want to have the
neighborhood he lives in a certain kind of way.And at the moment the overwhelming majority of our people out
there feel that people get along better, take more of a
common interest in the life of the community, when they
share a common background. I want you to believe me
when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter
into it. 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. Well, now we’ve been having a fine conversation. I
hope you’ll hear me all the way through. You see—in the face of all the things I have said,
we are prepared to make your family a very generous
offer … Our association is prepared, through the
collective effort of our people, to buy the house from you
at a financial gain to your family.

[anthonyjoeseph]

a_raisin_in_the_sun_-_lorraine_hansberry.pdf