It is about a family that's young who lives in Chicago and are struggling to afford things. They received money for insurance and they all have different ideas of what to spend it on. The mom wants to buy a house the son wants to invest in a liquor store. He believes that the investment will solve the family’s financial problems forever. Walter’s wife, Ruth, agrees with Mama, however, and hopes that she and Walter can provide more space and opportunity for their son, Travis. Finally, Beneatha, Walter’s sister and Mama’s daughter, wants to use the money for her medical school tuition. She also wishes that her family members were not so interested in joining the white world. Beneatha instead tries to find her identity by looking back to the past and to Africa.