The Move

The Washingtons moved from Selma, Alabama to the

North during the 1950s and now they are adapting to
the culture and the environment.
 Setting
The Washingtons, Alexander, Gloria, A.J., Rosa,
were originally from the southern state of
Alabama where discrimination was obvious and
even legal. The family moves to New York in
hopes of escaping the discrimination and
terrible conditions in the south to have a
better life. The Washingtons found a home in a
white community in Manhattan near the city of
Harlem where they continued to suffer from
discrimination despite living in an African
American society. During the 1950s, this was a
common situation for many African Americans.
Characters
Alexander Washington -The husband of
Gloria Washington, Father of A.J. and
Rosa

Gloria Washington- Wife of Alexander

Washington, mother of A.J. and Rosa

Rosa Washington- Daughter of Alexander

and Gloria Washington, the oldest child

Alexander Washington Jr. (A.J.)- Son of

Alexander and Gloria Washington, the
youngest child
Scene
When the Washington family settled into a white
neighborhood, first, their new neighbors, the Smiths, were
not happy about it. Conflict constantly occurs between the
two families. The Smiths believed that their neighborhood
was only for white families despite the fact that the law
promoted integration. The Smiths constantly used racial
slurs, treated them as if they were meaningless, and even
threatened the Washingtons. Due to these horrid conditions,
the Washingtons moved to Harlem. While this was a black
community known for its African American culture, it is no
match for the racism taking place in America. The
Washingtons now live in an old, run down home that lacks
the basic means to live comfortably.
Explanation and analysis
In the scene, we see the Washington's struggle against the racial
prejudice that their white neighbors hold them accountable to, much
like the situations African Americans encountered during the 1950s.
Because of this, the Washingtons end up having to move a second
time to avoid discrimination. They move to the nearby city of Harlem
which was the center of African American culture during this time
period. Despite moving to an African American community, the
Washingtons still faced racial discrimination and were forced into a
low standard of living. Conditions in African American communities
were much lower than that of the white communities at the time.
During the 1950s, no matter how much or how far they moved away,
racism still closely followed African Americans, just as it did the
Washington's.
credits
Analesia Sandoval - Researcher

Shaun Rippe - Producer

Albert Raez - Researcher

Rachel Lopez - Screenwriter

Brandon Rodriguez - Set Designer

Andrew Nguyen - Researcher