Sohil's Story

Eminent domain - the power of the government to take private property for public use - is used in order to make our communities better. Its basic function is to take land from one person to make the life of everyone better. One of the best example of eminent domain working occurred in the Freetown neighborhood in Greenville. Once upon a time, the houses were "little more than shacks, [and] cracked sidewalks and worn pavement were the norm" (Porter). However, with eminent domain, the community was able to turn around. Today, a community center is in place instead of "a small U.S. Army barracks" (Porter). This case proved the rhetoric of the U.S. government. Despite this instance, eminent domain isn't a perfect solution from a perfect world with fairies and pink elephants. Many times eminent domain can destroy a community. For instance, Detroit used eminent domain to "[displace] 4,000 people" in order to allow General Motors to build a new factory.

In A Raisin in the Sun,  by Lorraine Hansberry, we see how all different types of racism come together to affect a family's life. Institutionalized racism is seen through the Clybourne Park Improvement Association, as well as through the prices of both homes in white areas and homes in black areas. The Clybourne Park Improvement Association has New Neighbor Orientation Committee which sends Lindner to talk to the Younger family. Lindner then proceeds to offer the Younger family more money than what they paid to buy the house back. This is an example of institutionalized racism because the New Neighbor Orientation Committee is trying to get the Younger family to stay in their own neighborhood. The reason that the family is moving to Clybourne in the first place is another form of institutionalized racism. Mama says "Them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses." (Hansberry 93). The fact that black people hav