A Raisin in the Sun

In the screenplay A Raisin in the Sun, the Youngers family faced many financial, racial, social and other obstacles. Money played a big role throughout the play even though the family basically lived in poverty. Due to their grandfather passing, the family is given a chance to have a better way of life with a $10,000  insurance check. It was often discussed on where the money should be used.

Today, you will decide how the $10,000 will play into the Younger's lives. There are currently 5 people living in this small apartment in south-side Chicago during the 1950's. There is the mother (Ruth), the father (Walter), Walter's sister (Beneatha), the grandmother (Mama) and a child (Travis). Mama decided to call a neighbor a few doors down to help advise the family on the appropriate distribution of the money. Based on your readings, you will be assigned a character and it is your job to persuade the adviser on the proper way to have the money used. 

You will split into groups of 5. Once you are in groups, you will be assigned your character. 

The characters are:

• Beneatha
• Walter
• Ruth
• Mama
• The adviser

Based on your readings, you should have an idea of what each person wants to do with the money. Your assignment is to use the following links to persuade the adviser on why you should have the money. 

Beneatha:

1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2679066?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
2. https://www.sofi.com/blog/paying-off-medical-school-loans/

Walter:

1. https://www.sba.gov/starting-business/how-start-business/10-steps-starting-business
2. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/23792

Ruth: 

1. http://relativerealty.com/first-time-home-buying-by-decade/
2. http://www.interest.com/home-equity/advice/my-house-is-too-small-what-should-i-do/

Mama:

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/200901/when-parents-play-favorites

Now that you have gathered all of your information, you need to defend it. Take about 5 minutes to write your argument down and be ready to have a conversation with the adviser on why you deserve the money. 

As the adviser, you will listen to everyone's side and the you will make a decision. Gather your thoughts and write down your reasoning. You are allowed to split the money if you feel that it is necessary. Advisers, be sure to take note of what each character is saying and ask them questions.

During the discussion, you are allowed to disagree with other characters, however do not cut them off. 

Once the decision is made, the adviser from each group is to announce who receives the money and why they received it.

Now having the discussion of who will receive the money, it is now time to explain if you like or dislike the adviser's decision. This should be typed with a minimum of 250 words. 

For presentation day, your character is to explain why they should get the money in front of the class. The adviser will explain the decision-making process and give the reasoning. After the adviser speaks, each character is to state whether they agree or disagree with the adviser.