A Comparison of "Down by the Riverside" and "A Raisin in the Sun"

    “Down by the Riverside” written by Richard Wright and A Raisin in the Sun written by Lorraine Hansberry both grapple with racism and racial segregation in their narratives. “Down by the Riverside” follows Mann as he navigates himself and his family to safety during the flooding of the Mississippi river. Along his journey, he encounters numerous obstacles such as Mr. Heartfield whose boat someone had stolen and given to him to transport his pregnant wife to the hospital and the soldiers who forced black men to work on the levee. These obstacles symbolize the blatant oppression and racism within the system that black people faced during that era. 

A Raisin in the Sun follows the Younger family as they navigate their financial difficulties and personal conflicts. Themes of racism arise throughout the story when the family is given an offer to not move into a predominantly white neighborhood in an effort to preserve the whiteness of that community. Both “Down by the Riverside” and A Raisin in the Sun depict racism and racial segregation, but Wright chooses to show more violent and conspicuous racism while Hansberry writes of a more subtle racism from white people and double consciousness that, although less visible, is equally detrimental to the people who experience it.

“Down by the Riverside” has a more somber mood. In the story, the white soldiers forced every black man they could to work on the levee, and those who tried to run away were shot. They were described to be “driven em like slaves” (Wright 60). The act of writing about black people being forced into a situation akin to slavery reveals that the systems of oppression used during the slave era are still present and can easily be called upon again if need be. The story also explicitly shows the segregation present during the hospital scene where the black people are forced to go to the section with the sign “For Colored” (74). The story ends with Mann being tried for killing Mr. Heartfield and stealing a boat. As Mann is walking off to his execution, he notes that the black people are just standing idly by, and he knew that “they would not and could not help him” (97). He also recalls the times when he also stood silently as they took other black people to their deaths. This scene represents the dangers of racism faced during this time, where black people afraid for their lives are forced to stand silently by as soldiers take other black people off to their death.

A Raisin in the Sun focuses more on the social and economic effects of racism while also featuring double consciousness in the narrative. Instead of depicting violence against black people, Hansberry reveals a more nuanced depiction of the black experience. While overt racism still exists, another common form of racism is presented through microaggressions and under the table dealings. The Younger family experiences this when Mr. Lindner tries to buy the house that they just purchased back from them to keep the neighborhood predominantly white. He says that “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” (Hansberry 514). Mr. Lindner asserts that racial prejudices don’t play a part in his actions, but they clearly do, which contrasts with “Down by the Riverside” where the racism is never deflected and reframed in other terms. A Raisin in the Sun also features double consciousness, or racism from within, which is shown through the character Walter. He says “we all tied up in a race of people that don’t know how to do nothing but moan, pray, and have babies” (503). This statement contrasts with “Down by the Riverside” where the characters don’t express their own thoughts and instead are only reactionary to their environment. Walter in that statement shows how he partially believes that black people are economically disadvantaged due to their own fault.

These distinctions between the two stories arise due to the differing beliefs the authors hold about how racial equality should be fought for. “Down by the Riverside” supports the use of violence as a means to an end if absolutely necessary as demonstrated by Mann killing Mr. Heartfield in self defence. On the other hand, A Raisin in the Sun, values standing up for oneself more such as how the Younger family refuses Mr. Lindner’s money even though they are struggling financially as a statement of pride in one’s racial identity.

Works Cited

Wright, Richard. “Down by the Riverside.” Uncle Tom’s Children, 1938, pp. 54-102.

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House, 1997.