FREE ESSAY ON RAISIN IN THE SUN

RAISIN IN THE SUN

A RAISIN IN THE SUN 
KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS 
SETTING 
The action of the play takes place in the poor South side of 
Chicago, sometime after World War II, probably around 1959. 
Most of the action takes place in the apartment of the Youngers, 
especially in the living/dining room and near the bathroom that 
they share with the Johnson family. Some of the action also takes 
place in the kitchen and in the two small bedrooms. The first 
bedroom is shared by Mama and her daughter, Beneatha; the 
second serves as a bedroom for Walter and his wife, Ruth. The 
furnishings in the Younger household are typical and tasteful, but 
worn; it is obvious that they have had to accommodate too many 
people for too many years. Crocheted doilies and covers are used 
to hide the worn spots in the fabric, and chairs are placed over 
worn spots in the carpet. Additionally, the rooms are dark, for there 
are only a few small windows 
LIST OF CHARACTERS 
Major 
Ruth Younger - Walter Younger's wife, who is about thirty years 
old. She was probably a pretty girl, but now she appears 
disappointed, weary, and tired. She still, however, possesses a soft 
personality, always trying to please others and being easily 
embarrassed. At the same time she is emotionally strong; in spite 
of her economic and marital problems, she never succumbs to 
despair. Throughout the play she shares a close relationship with 
her in-laws. 
Travis Younger - Ruth and Walter's son, who is the only child 
presented in the play. Although he longs to be a street kid in his 
ghetto neighborhood, he is sheltered and overprotected by the 
adults in the house. 
Walter Lee Younger (also called Brother) - the husband of Ruth 
and the younger brother of Beneatha. He comes across as a 
desperate man, shackled by poverty and prejudice. He is also 
obsessed with finding a business idea to solve all his social and 
economic problems. 
Beneatha Younger - Walter's older sister and Lena's daughter, 
who dreams of becoming a doctor. A strong-willed woman, she 
takes herself a little too seriously on occasion. She also takes pride 
in being an intellectual and a South African. Some of her liberal 
views, gained in college, clash terribly with the orthodox thoughts 
of her mother. 
Lena Younger (Mama) - the matriarch of the Younger household. 
She is Walter and Beneatha's mother and Ruth's mother-in-law. 
She is a strong woman with a very clear vision of what is 'good' 
and what is 'bad'. She wants Beneatha to become a doctor; she also 
supports Ruth, her daughter-in-law and loves her grandson to 
distraction. 
Joseph Asagai - an African student who is very proud of his 
culture and who professes to love Beneatha. He presents her with 
African robes and records and supports her ambition to become a 
doctor. He also wants her to come with him to his homeland in 
Africa. His name is taken from the word assegai, which means a 
short handled stabbing spear. 
George Murchison - the educated and wealthy boyfriend of 
Beneatha. An academic show-off, he is contemptuous of other 
blacks. He is also pompous in his behavior with Beneatha, who 
really prefers Joseph to George. 
CONFLICT 
Protagonist: 
The protagonist of the play is Walter Younger, a young, 
impoverished black man. He is the husband of Ruth and the son of 
Lena. Totally dissatisfied with his position in life, he longs to lead 
his family out of its poverty to live in a nice neighborhood outside 
the ghettos of South Chicago. To make his dreams come true, he 
immaturely and foolishly invests the insurance money from his 
father's death to open a liquor store. He also considers giving in to 
the threats of Mr. Lindner and not moving in to the white 
neighborhood. 
Antagonist: 
Walter's main problem, or antagonist, is himself. Dreaming of a 
better life, he follows a foolish get-rich scheme, investing the 
family insurance money in a business venture against his mother's 
wishes. Additionally, he also considers giving in to the pressure 
applied by the whites who do not want Walter and his family to 
move in to their neighborhood. 
Climax: 
The play reaches its climax when the Youngers learn that Willy 
has run off with all of the insurance money. This action causes 
Walter to grow up. He is forced to see the error of his ways, to face 
reality instead of living in a dream world, and to make some 
important, mature decisions. 
Outcome: 
The play is a tragic comedy. Although the insurance money is 
stolen by Willy, Walter is forced to grow up and become a realist. 
He stands up to Mr. Lindner and continues with the plan to move 
the family into the white neighborhood. He may have to struggle a 
lot to pay for the house, but he is brave in his effort to overcome 
his fears and try. At last, he is acting like his proud father, Big 
Walter. Additionally, Lena's dream of living in her own home 
comes true for her, and Ruth is proud of her husband's courage. 
PLOT (Synopsis) 
A Raisin in the Sun is a play about a poor black family's struggle 
for survival. As the curtain rises, Mama, the sixty-year old mother 
of the family, is waiting for a $10,000 life insurance check, for her 
husband has passed away. Much of the action of the play revolves 
around how this $10,000 is spent. Beneatha, the daughter of the 
family, would like to spend some of the money on her education, 
for she longs to be a doctor. Walter, the son of the family, wants to 
invest all of the money in a liquor store. Being a staunch Christian, 
Mama is opposed to Walter's plan. 
After the check arrives, Mama uses part of the money as a down 
payment on a house in a white neighborhood called Clybourne 
Park. Walter is very angry at her decision and causes Mama deep 
anguish. To make things better between herself and her son, she 
entrusts Walter with the rest of the money, asking him to put part 
of it in the bank for Beneatha's education. The immature Walter 
ignores his mother's wishes and immediately invests all of the 
remaining money in a liquor store. He is certain that he and his two 
partners will quadruple their initial investment. 
A white representative from Clybourne Park comes to meet the 
Youngers and to warn them against moving into the white 
neighborhood. The Youngers are angry at his hidden threat and 
turn him out of the house. Then Bobo, one of Walter's business 
partners comes to inform Walter that the third investor in the liquor 
store, Willy, has run off with all of Walter's insurance money. The 
news is a deep blow to the family and tests the strength of each 
member. At first Walter thinks that they should not continue with 
their plans to move. He is at the point of selling the house to Mr. 
Lindner; at the last minute, he changes his mind. In spite of the 
financial reverses and the racial discrimination that they might 
have to face, the Youngers continue their plan of moving into the 
white neighborhood. 
Apart from the above-mentioned main plot, there are subplots, 
which include Beneatha's love affairs and Ruth's pregnancy. 
Beneatha is dating two men; George Murchison is richer and 
kinder than Joseph Asagai, whom Beneatha prefers. Toward the 
end of the play, Asagai finally asks Beneatha to marry him and go 
with him to Africa. Ruth gets pregnant and wants to have an 
abortion since she feels that her marriage is troubled. Mama, 
however, is totally against the idea. Although it is not stated in the 
play, it appears that Ruth decides against the abortion, for her 
marriage seems to have improved. Her fights with Walter subside 
after he decides to keep the new house. She is happy about moving 
into a larger place. 
Despite all the difficulties and complications in the play, at the end 
the audience sees the Youngers leaving their old house. Mama is 
carefully carrying her potted plant, as if to make sure that they put 
down roots in the new place. She realizes that the move into a 
white neighborhood is a bold decision on the part of the family. 
THEMES 
Major 
One major theme of the play is the importance of dreams; each 
member of the Younger family is driven by them. Mama longs to 
have her own home in a nice part of town, away from South 
Chicago; she does not want her grandchildren to grow up in a place 
where there are rats. Beneatha dreams of getting a good education, 
becoming a doctor, and marrying a nice man. Walter wants to have 
a successful business so that he can rise above the poverty he has 
always known. 
Closely related to the dream theme is the theme of pride. Even 
though the Youngers are a poor black family, they are all proud of 
their values and morals. They often speak of the pride of Big 
Walter, Lena's former husband. She too is proud enough to want to 
live in a nice house in a white neighborhood. Even when her 
family is threatened by prejudiced whites from the neighborhood, 
she is too proud to back down from her decision. Beneatha is also 
proud. She works hard at school and believes that she can become 
a doctor. Walter too believes in himself. He is sure he can be 
successful in business. When his partner steals all of his money, he 
almost gives in to despair. In the end, he regains his pride and 
decides that the family should go forth with the plans to move into 
the new house. 
Minor 
Minor, but important, themes of the play are the cruelty of 
discrimination and the strength of family ties. The Youngers, 
simply because they are black, are not wanted as neighbors in a 
white community. But because of the closeness of the family, they 
stick together, even in difficult times, to make their dreams come 
true. They prove that family ties are more important than money. 
MOOD 
The prevailing mood of the play is serious with a few touches of 
humor. The play is thought provoking as it depicts a poor black 
family struggling to have a place of its own. Along the way, they 
meet with many troubles, including the loss of the insurance 
money and the prejudice of the white community. Because of the 
family's determination, especially that of Mama, the Youngers are 
seen leaving their old apartment in South Chicago to move into 
their new home. 
ACT SUMMARIES WITH NOTES 
ACT I, Scene 1: Friday morning 
Summary 
The first scene of the play is set in a cramped apartment in South 
Chicago, where the Younger family resides. It is early morning, 
and the house is slowly awakening to another day. The first family 
members to be seen are Walter Younger, and his wife, Ruth, who 
appears to be weary and unwell; as soon as they are up, they begin 
to argue about his preoccupation with plans for a new business 
venture. They are interrupted by their young son, Travis, who asks 
for some money to take to school. 
After Walter goes into the living room, Beneatha, his sister, enters. 
Walter argues with her about her ambition to become a doctor. 
Finally, as Walter is leaving for his work as a chauffeur, Mama 
enters the room. Ruth asks Mama how she proposes to spend the 
life insurance money that she has received after the death of her 
husband; although Mama answers that she does not want to talk 
about money first thing in the morning, they do have a financial 
discussion. When Beneatha joins them, the talk turns to her love 
life, for she has two suitors. During the conversation, Mama slaps 
Beneatha for talking blasphemously about God, and Beneatha 
leaves the room. As Mama and Ruth talk about Walter and 
Beneatha, Ruth suddenly faints. 
ACT I, Scene 2: The following morning 
Summary 
This is the day when the insurance check is expected to arrive. 
Mama and Beneatha are busy doing spring cleaning. Travis is 
eager to go down to play after finishing his chores. Joseph calls 
Beneatha, and she invites him over. Ruth comes in and sadly tells 
everyone that she is pregnant and contemplating having an 
abortion, a thought that upsets Mama; but since Ruth does not look 
like she feels well, Mama takes her to her room. 
When there is commotion on the street below, the women look out 
and see that the kids are chasing rats. Travis is, therefore, called 
back upstairs. Mama again thinks how she wants to move from the 
neighborhood. Soon Joseph Asagai arrives, bringing Beneatha 
African records and robes. When Mama enters the room, she is 
introduced to Asagai. Travis is sent out to do a small chore. 
When Travis returns, he is holding the insurance check, which he 
has found in the mailbox. Walter enters and immediately asks 
about the arrival of the insurance money. Learning that it has 
come, he seizes this opportunity to discuss his business plans, but 
Mama ignores Walter completely. Walter had also previously 
ignored Ruth's attempts to tell him about her pregnancy, and it is 
Mama who now informs him of it and her desire to get an abortion. 
Walter is surprised to learn that his wife is pregnant and is not 
worried about the abortion, for he thinks that Ruth would never 
really have one. Mama insists that he act like a man, like Big 
Walter, and tell Ruth that she cannot have the abortion. Walter, 
however, is only concerned about the insurance check. Mama is 
taken aback to learn that his desire for money overshadows his 
concern for Ruth and the new baby. In frustration, Walter leaves 
the house. 
ACT II, Scene 1: Later, the same day 
Summary 
Later on the same day, Beneatha dances to African music in her 
new Nigerian robes and headdress as Ruth stands ironing nearby. 
When a drunken Walter enters the room, he joins in Beneatha's 
ritualistic African dance. As they move, they both seem to look 
out into the past. 
The dance is interrupted by the arrival of George Murchison, who 
has come to take Beneatha to the theater. Seeing her in native 
dress, he argues with Beneatha about the importance of African 
history and heritage to the black people in America; it is obvious 
that he holds Africans in contempt. When Beneatha leaves the 
room, he angers Walter by dismissing his efforts to discuss big 
business plans with him. When Beneatha returns, she has changed 
her clothes. 
After Murchison and Beneatha depart, Walter and Ruth remember 
their early days together and wonder how things have become so 
stale and difficult between them. Mama returns home 
unexpectedly, just as Walter and Ruth are kissing. She tells them 
that she has just paid a hefty down payment on a new house in an 
all-white neighborhood. Ruth is delighted at the news, for she is 
eager to move out of their present cramped, dingy apartment. 
Walter, however, is crushed by Mama's news; he has wanted to use 
all of the insurance money on his business venture. He seems bitter 
about the fact that Mama has apparently butchered his dreams. 
ACT II, Scene 2: Friday night, a few weeks later 
Summary 
When this scene opens, there are packing crates all over the house. 
Beneatha and Murchison have just returned from a date. When she 
rebuffs his attempts to kiss her, he departs. Mama asks her 
daughter whether she had a nice time. Beneatha says that she 
thinks George is stupid. Mama tells her that she need not waste 
time with fools. Beneatha is glad that she is understanding. 
Mrs. Johnson, a neighbor, enters. She has come over to warn the 
Youngers of the dangers involved in moving into a white 
neighborhood. Her concern for their welfare does not seem very 
genuine; instead, she comes across as an interfering busybody, 
who gets into a small argument with Mama. After Mrs. Johnson 
leaves, Walter's employer calls to ask why he has not come to 
work for three days. Mama quizzes Walter about where he has 
been. He tells her that he has been driving around in Willy's car 
most of the time. He looks incredibly sad and disillusioned with 
life. 
Mama feels guilty about Walter's misery and decides to give him 
the remaining insurance money. She hands him sixty-five hundred 
dollars and asks him to put three thousand dollars of the money in 
a savings account for Beneatha's medical school. He can spend the 
rest of the money as he chooses, but she tells him to behave as if he 
were the head of the family. Walter is elated. When Travis enters, 
he tells his son all about his far-fetched dreams of making a lot of 
money from the liquor store. He obviously has not listened to 
Mama's warning about liquor being unchristian. 
ACT II, Scene 3: Moving day, one week later 
Summary 
It is Saturday, a week later and the day that the Youngers are to 
move out of their old house. Beneatha and Ruth are in good spirits 
about leaving the rat hole. Ruth is also pleased that Walter is a 
changed man with a positive outlook on life. He even took her out 
to a movie the previous night. When Walter enters the room, it is 
obvious that he is also in a great mood, for he playfully dances 
with his wife. Their levity is interrupted by the appearance of a 
white man, who comes to the door asking for Lena Younger. 
Walter tells the stranger that he handles his mother's business 
matters. 
The visitor is Karl Lindner, a representative of the Clybourne Park 
Improvement Association. In order to keep the Youngers from 
moving into their neighborhood, he makes a very generous offer 
on the behalf of his entire association; they want to buy the 
Youngers' new home at a very handsome price. Although Walter 
hears the man out, he then demands that he leave. When Mama 
returns, they all try to hide the news of Lindner's offer from her. 
Instead, they sarcastically say that the whites in Clybourne Park 
just cannot wait to meet the Youngers. 
All of the family has purchased housewarming gifts for Mama, 
even little Travis. They give them to her with excitement before 
they stop to finish packing. Their celebration is again interrupted 
by the doorbell. This time it is Bobo, one of Walter's business 
partners. He tells Walter the bad news that Willy has disappeared 
with all of Walter's insurance money. The entire family is shocked 
by the news, especially Walter, who is suddenly a broken man. 
Mama is so angry that she starts to beat Walter on the face. She 
then prays to God for strength, closing the eventful scene. 
ACT III: An hour later 
Summary 
This scene opens an hour later. There is a heavy gloom in the 
Younger household. Walter is in his room, stretched out on his bed 
and staring morosely up at the ceiling. Beneatha is sitting 
mournfully at the table. Mama has suggested that they abandon 
their plans for moving and stay in the apartment. Ruth, totally 
upset by the entire situation, insists they most leave this horrible 
place. 
When the doorbell rings, Beneatha gets up to answer it. It is 
Asagai, who has come to help with the packing. Beneatha blurts 
out that her brother gave away the insurance money, including her 
money for medical school. It is obvious that her previous positive 
idealism has been replaced by a loss of faith. She is expecting 
Asagai to give her sympathy; instead, he reprimands her for her 
materialistic outlook. His criticism leads to a heated argument. 
After Beneatha hears him out, Asagai proposes to her, asking her 
to marry and move to Nigeria with him. 
Walter enters the room and starts searching frantically for 
Lindner's phone number while ignoring Beneatha's insults. He then 
leaves the house for a short while. When he returns, he tells the 
family that he has made a call to Lindner, for he plans to sell the 
new house to the association at the nice price that they had offered. 
Beneatha and Ruth are repulsed by the idea. Mama also thinks that 
it is terrible to accept a bribe to stay out of a white neighborhood. 
Mama proves that her main concern is keeping the family together. 
When Beneatha states that she disowns Walter, Mama reprimands 
her for her disloyalty to her own brother. 
Mr. Lindner arrives, which obviously upsets Mama. She 
sarcastically tells Travis to watch the spectacle of his father giving 
in to a white man. As Walter begins to speak to Lindner, he at first 
sounds confused; then suddenly he begins to speak emotionally 
about the pride of black people. It becomes clear that Walter has 
made the decision not to sell the new house. Lindner tries to appeal 
to Mama, but she also refuses, feeling a great pride in her son's 
bold decision. Lindner has no choice but to leave. 
Ruth is ecstatic about the situation. She eagerly watches as the 
moving men start to move out the furniture. Amongst the 
excitement, Beneatha tells her mother that Asagai has asked her to 
marry him; they both seem genuinely pleased. Walter and 
Beneatha then argue playfully and leave the room. Mama and Ruth 
are left together; they have a quiet conversation in which Mama 
tells Ruth that she thinks Walter has finally come into his 
manhood. Ruth, for the first time, seems proud of her husband. 
When Ruth walks out of the room, Mama stands alone silently for 
some time before departing. She is then seen coming back into the 
house to grab her potted plant. She then walks out of the house for 
the last time. 
OVERALL ANALYSES 
CHARACTERS 
Walter Younger 
Walter is the young black protagonist of the play. He is the only 
son of Lena Younger, the husband of Ruth, the father of Travis, 
and the sister of Beneatha. Having lived his whole life in the ghetto 
of South Chicago, he longs to escape the poverty and have a nice 
home in a safe, clean neighborhood. He also dreams of having his 
son attend the best schools and buying his wife expensive jewelry. 
Unfortunately, Walter is not realistic about making his dreams 
come true. He believes that he and two friends, Bobo and Willy, 
can get rich quick by opening a liquor store. He is sure that if 
Mama gives him the money from the insurance check, he can 
quadruple the investment. Walter is consumed with the belief that 
money will buy him happiness. 
Walter is so obsessed with his plan to make money that he ignores 
his wife, Ruth. They constantly fight and never really 
communicate; at one point in the play, he even indicates that he no 
longer cares about her. When she tries to tell him that she is 
pregnant again, he does not even listen. She is so distressed over 
the problems in their marriage that she considers having an 
abortion rather than bring a new baby to live in their impoverished 
midst. At one time, Ruth and Walter must have had passion 
between them; but the hard times have extinguished the flame. 
The Younger family has always been a peaceful one with strong 
family ties; therefore, the fighting between Ruth and Walter is very 
uncomfortable for everyone. Walter makes things worse when he 
becomes upset with his mother. When the insurance check comes 
in and Walter's mother will not give him any of the money, he 
becomes hostile and bitter. When he learns that she has spent a 
large portion of the money on a down payment on a house, he is 
crushed. He is sure that he will never be able to make his dreams 
come true and tells Mama that she has stolen his future. 
Mama cannot stand to see one of her children in misery. As a 
result, she makes a foolish decision. Even though Mama is 
opposed to Walter's investing in a liquor store because of her 
Christian principles, she gives him more than half of the insurance 
money in order to appease him. Walter foolishly and immaturely 
gives the sixty-five hundred dollars to his partner, Willy, who 
quickly steals it and flees. When Walter finds out the truth, he is a 
devastated and desperate man. He decides that he must sell the new 
house to Mr. Lindner at a handsome price, even though everyone 
else in the family is counting on moving there. 
At the end of the play, Walter finally matures, coming into his 
manhood. When Lindner is insulting and patronizing, he becomes 
proud of his family and his heritage; in the process, he decides he 
will not sell the white man the new house at any price. It is ironic 
that he finds his manhood by refusing to take money when 
throughout the play his whole focus has been on grabbing money. 
The entire family is delighted to see him stand up like a man, much 
like Big Walter would have done. 
PLOT (STRUCTURE) 
The tightly structured plot of the play is developed in a very 
traditional manner. In the first scene, the major characters are 
introduced, the setting and theme are established, and the conflict 
is presented. All of the Youngers eagerly await the arrival of the 
$10,000 life insurance check. Walter, in particular, dreams about 
the money, believing that he will be able to use it to invest in a 
liquor store with his two friends. 
The rising action really begins with the arrival of the check. 
Everyone seems to have plans for the money. Walter is sure that 
Mama will give him the money for his business venture; Beneatha 
is certain that the money will be used for her education. Only Ruth, 
the daughter-in-law, is wise enough to realize that it is Mama's 
money and she can spend it however she wants and should spend it 
on herself. 
When Mama uses a large portion of the money on a down payment 
on a house in Clybourne Park, an all-white neighborhood, 
everyone in the family has a different reaction. Ruth is overjoyed, 
for she has dreamed of moving out of the cramped, dingy 
apartment. Beneatha wonders if she will be deprived of her 
education. Walter is infuriated and blames Mama for stealing his 
future from him. 
Mama, not wanting to see her children unhappy, gives Walter sixty 
five hundred dollars, the balance of the insurance payment. She 
tells him to put three thousand of it in a savings account for 
Beneatha's schooling and advises him not to spend his portion on 
the liquor store, an un-christian venture. Walter ignores the 
warnings of his wise mother and gives all of the money, including 
Beneatha's share, to Willy, one of his business partners, who 
quickly steals the cash and flees town. 
When the family learns about the theft, it is the climax of the play. 
Walter, of course, is most upset of all, for his dream has been 
destroyed and his family is very angry about his irresponsibility. 
The rest of the play centers on how Walter handles the loss. In 
order to recoup some of the money, he decides he will sell the new 
house to the Clybourne Park Association for a handsome profit, 
destroying the hopes of Mama and Ruth in the process. In the end, 
he stands up to Mr. Lindner and refuses to sell. His decision proves 
he has regained his pride and come into his manhood. As a result, 
the play ends as a tragic comedy. Although the money is lost, the 
family is saved. 
Many things help to unify the plot. There is a cast of very few 
characters, with one of the Youngers appearing in every scene; 
Walter, the protagonist, is the main character and focal point 
throughout. The play also has a unity of time and place. Only a few 
days pass in the drama, and almost all the action takes place in the 
small, dingy apartment of the Youngers, located in the ghetto of 
South Chicago. The play is further unified by the themes of having 
dreams, discrimination, and pride, which are developed 
throughout. Another unifying factor is the use of the symbolic 
potted plant, which stands for the struggling Younger family and 
appears several times in the play, including the touching closing 
scene. 
The appeal of the play stems from its hopeful and realistic 
portrayal of a black family during the 1950s. The message is that a 
family such as the Youngers, who suffer from poverty and 
discrimination, can survive, even thrive, in spite of overwhelming 
obstacles. Hansberry never strays from this central theme 
throughout the entire three acts of the play. 
Finally, the six scenes moves forward in a linear, chronological 
fashion, with one scene logically following the next. In addition, 
there is no confusion between the past and the present; the few 
flashbacks that do occur are very clear and obvious and basically 
relate to Big Walter, the deceased husband and father. The entire 
play is really a movement away from the darkness, represented by 
the ghetto, to the light, represented by the new neighborhood. 
Thus, the play is appropriately titled A Raisin in the Sun. 
THEMES 
The Importance of Dreams: 
Because they have dreams, the Youngers rebel against the position 
that society has forced them into. Walter Younger is the most 
rebellious. He resents his impoverished life and fears that his 
future will be a big looming blank space - full of nothing. . .But it 
don't have to be. A subservient chauffeur, he dreams of 
accumulating wealth and living as his employer, Mr. Arnold, does. 
He sees the opening of a liquor store as a way to get rich quick and 
convinces Mama to give him some of the insurance money for his 
business venture. He dreams of the day when he will make enough 
from his business to move the family out of the black Chicago 
ghetto in which they have always lived. 
Where Walter is mostly a dreamer, Mama is a dreamer and a doer. 
Like Walter, she longs to leave the ghetto behind. When she 
receives the insurance check, she decides that she will use a 
portion of it to make a down payment on a home. She is brave 
enough to select one in an all-white neighborhood, even though 
she knows that the neighbors will not be pleased and will 
discriminate against them. She, however, wants her grandchildren 
to have a safe place to play and the opportuni