Mama What Were You THINKING?

For this 3rd unit Matriarch we studied the roles of matriarchs. The play that we read together in class were the little foxes and the raisin in the sun. We learned the differences between lots of plays and why they were said the way they were. I learned to visualize more a play and think outside from what a book is just telling.

Chorus Draft:

Prologue: On the Southside of Chicago lived the Youngers, known as the poor African American family. In the 1950’s African Americans were fighting for their dreams and hopes. The man of the house lost his life leaving his wife “Mama” with all the inheritance money. She then, told the rest of her family about the money. Walter her oldest son wanted her money to build a liquor store because he thought it would make lots of profit for the family. Mama on the other side, didn’t like the idea of a liquor store because she was religious and she thought that was a sin.  Mama instead, wanted to buy a house for her family to live in. Everyone liked the idea of a house besides Walter. Mama bought a house in Clybourne Park where it was an all white neighborhood. Mama was worried about what the rest of the family will say. When Mama discussed the purchase to the rest of the family they were happy but, worried and scared. Their reaction to the purchase was shocking because Mama didn’t have no other choice but to get the house because it was the cheapest at the time.

Ruth: Get on in there--- So you went and did it!

Mama: Yes, I did.

Chorus:  Remember Mama?  Remember how she wanted to share the 10,000 inheritance check with her children? Mama always dreamed of a bigger house. She wanted everyone to get what they always wanted;  Travis his room and Ruth out of that infested house. Now, Walter wasn’t thinking the way Mama was thinking. He wanted the money for a liquor store that Mama didn’t approve of and still Mama was willing to give him money to start his business. And there’s Beneatha, too. She wanted to be a doctor, and even though, Mama didn’t quite understand why a woman would want to be a doctor, she supported Beneatha’s dream.

Ruth: PRAISE GOD! Please, honey ---let me be glad… you be glad, too. Oh Walter… A home…. A home. Well--- Where is it? How big is it? How much it going to cost?

Mama: Well---

Ruth: When we moving?

Mama: First of the month.

Ruth: Praise God!

Mama: It’s--- It’s a nice house, too … Three bedrooms---nice big one for you and Ruth… Me and Beneatha still have to share our room, but Travis have one of his own--- and I figure if the---new baby--is a boy, we could get one of them double-decker outfits… and there’s a yard with a little patch of dirt where I could maybe get to grow me a few flowers… and a nice big basement.

Ruth: Walter honey, be glad---

Mama: ‘Course I don’t want to make it sound fancier than it is...It’s just a plain little old house---but it’s made good and solid---and it will be ours. Walter Lee---It makes a difference in a man when he can walk on floor that belong to him.

Ruth: Where is it?

Mama: Four o six Clybourne Street, Clybourne Park.

Ruth: Clybourne Park? Mama, there ain’t no colored people living in Clybourne Park.

Chorus: In her stupidity, she bought a house where there were no Black people. Okay, why can’t we move to an all- black neighborhood where it’s redlined that way they know that there atleast safe, since Whites know to stay away. Anyways,  people have been tortured and killed trying to move into an all-white neighborhood and for passing the sundown time. Did she really think her children would agree moving with her? She’s risking the lives of her children, where they aren’t even welcomed.  Why would Mama risk putting her children in this kind of danger?

Mama: Well, I guess there’s going to be some now.

Walter: So that’s the peace and comfort you went and bought for us today!

Mama: Son--- I just tried to find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family.

Ruth: Well---well-- ‘course I ain’t one never been ‘ fraid of no crackers, mind you---but--well, wasn’t there no other houses nowhere?

Mama: Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as others houses. I did the best I could.

Chorus: Well, it was the cheapest one around. This is why she bought the house in the first place. Not to judge but did you even know where you were buying this house at?

Ruth: Well---well--- All I can say is---if this is my time in life--- MY TIME--- to say goodbye---to these goddamned cracking walls!--- these marching roaches! --- and this cramped little closet which ain’t now or never was no kitchen! … then I say it out loud and good HALLELUJAH! AND GOODBYE MISERY...I DON’T NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN. Lena?

Mama: Yes, honey?

Ruth: Is there---is there a whole lot of sunlight?

Mama: Yes, child there’s a whole lot of sunlight.

Ruth: Well--- I guess I better see ’bout Travis. Lord, I sure don’t feel like whipping nobody today!

Mama: Son--- you---you understand what I done, don’t you? I --- I just seen my family falling apart today… just falling to pieces in front of my eyes … we couldn’t of gone on like we was today. We was going backwards ‘stead of forward--- talking ‘bout killing babies and wishing each other was dead… when it gets like that in life---you just got to do something different, push on out and do something bigger… I wish you say something son… I wish you’d say how deep inside you you think I done the right thing---

Walter: What you need me to say you done right for? You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was all right for? So you butchered up a dream of mine--- you---who always talking ’bout your children’s dreams…

Mama: Walter Lee---

Chorus: Don’t be like Mama. Yes, she made a quite difficult decision for her children but we got to  understand, that Mama was trying to give the best for her children.  Mama shouldn't have done this to her kids. She should have discussed it with them. Instead, of purchasing it right away. You see what anger you brought onto Walter?  What else is there to do?