What decision would you have made regarding the people offering to buy the house from them so they wouldn't move into the neighborhood?
shareI would have introduced the "Welcoming Committee" chairman to my Smith & Wesson and told him to never step foot on my property again.
This scene truly disturbed me. Sad, sad times.
For enough money I bet you'd sell him your Smith & Wesson so that you could buy a full-auto M4 or something.
shareIt is hard for me to say since I'm not black. It is good that they stood up to the association both times and moved into Clybourne Park.
shareI'd have taken the money, which was probably a good deal MORE than the original $3,500 and found a decent crib in a nice, middle-class black area. Which of course existed in Chicago at the time. I would have spent more than a few hours searching for a house. And Bennie would've also had her tuition. I'd have banked the rest,bought a bunch of savings bonds (remember those?) in Travis' name or maybe (once again) have taken the time to find a legitimate business to invest in.
shareI think the thing is, by taking the money from Linder, Walter would be giving away the last part of the insurance money, which is tied up in the house. Mama felt it was wrong for Walter to do that and Walter eventually realized it and didn't want to make the same mistake again in giving away his dad's insurance money.
shareI'm with Bradford. The only reason Walter's mother chose the house in the white neighborhood was it was more affordable--not to make some kind of a "statement." I'd have very carefully checked how MUCH money and maybe tried to milk them for more, if it would have bought the same or better house in a nice black neighborhood.
share[deleted]
When Mr. Lindner came by to buy the family out, it was no longer about the insurance money. Money wasn't the issue, the Clybourne neighborhood was willing to pay off the price of the house (more specifically the mortgage, I'm guessing), even give them extra for profit. If money was the main problem, the family would've simply accepted the pay out and moved elsewhere perhaps.
But, money was no longer the issue. The Younger Family's dignity was at stake. Lena even mentions it quite a few times how much the 5 generations struggled as slaves and poverty stricken working class, but they never allowed anyone to "buy" them out. By refusing the neighborhood's bribe, it was Walter's way of telling them that their dignity and pride couldn't be bought.
I'd have asked how much money, said it wasn't enough, talked loudly about all the things I was going to do in the white neighborhood, gotten the offer substantially increased, and soaked those bigots for every cent I could. I would then have sent my sister to college to be a doctor, bought a nice house for my mother, wife, and child, and put some money into a legitimate business for myself.
"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."
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Depends on how much of a gain you'd get. If it was double the investment and they could find something that nice in a black neighborhood, well do it.
But they were not just moving up in standards, they were making a statement.
For the old lady to say she wasn't it, is ludicrous. in the beginning they wanted just the house. When the whites wanted to get rid of them, THEN she made the statement, by staying.
problem was would the white people leave them alone? Probably not and it will be miserable for awhile. Then things settle down and everyone is glad they stayed.