LyndsieC


 * “Holiday Ruined for Victims of Vicious Hate Crime”

If you have read a __A Raisin in the Sun__ you will understand the following article. What might have happend if the youngers had moved into the neighborhood of Clybourne Park?**
 * by Lyndsie C**

This holiday season has been struck with tragedy in Clybourne Park due to the heartbreaking death of a fellow neighbor. Travis Younger, age ten, met an untimely end on December 24th when a bomb hidden in one of his Christmas presents exploded.

The gift, which was placed on the doorstep of the Youngers’ residence a week prior to the incident, was anonymously addressed to Travis. “We just thought it was a kind neighbor spreading holiday spirit,” sobs Ruth Younger, Travis’s mother. “Travis was so excited when that gift arrived… he couldn’t wait to see what was in there.”

The Youngers, whose controversial move five months ago into the all-white Clybourne Park sparked much animosity and conflict within the community, had thought that the entire hubbub surrounding their desegregation attempt had finally settled down. However, they were sadly mistaken.

“The bomb apparently was placed in a box and wrapped up to make it seem as if it were a Christmas present,” states Ryan Bane, chief investigator of this case. “The bomb was triggered to go off when the box was opened,” he remarks. “This was obviously a hate crime towards the family, and I believe that those responsible were hoping that the gift would be opened on Christmas day, when the entire family was in the same room, therefore resulting in the elimination of all the Youngers.” However, it seems as if Travis’s impatience and curiosity prevented this from happening.

“That Travis was so darn eager to open that gift,” says Lena Younger, Travis’s grandmother. “I kept on a telling him to wait ‘til Christmas day to open that present, but he’d wouldn’ listen. Instead that boy snuck that present to his room an’ opened it on Christmas Eve. An explosion killed Travis Younger.

This horrific crime has sparked much fear and anxiety within Clybourne Park, and there is a cry from the family of the deceased to catch those responsible. “We have extended our resources and stretched our efforts so that we might catch the criminals as soon as possible,” says Bane. “This is such a tragedy, and although no one else was harmed by the bomb, Travis’s death obviously comes as a great loss to the family.”

There has been much speculation on whether the Youngers will remain in Clybourne Park, and Walter Younger, Travis’s father, tells us about the plans for the future of his family: “We have been here for five months. Mind you-- these haven’t been the easiest five months, but we’ve gotten through it. My wife is gonna have a baby soon… and even though little Travis isn’t here no more don’t mean that we're gonna give up. We’ll rebuild the part o’ the house that was damaged by the bomb. We gonna stay here, and them white folks who wants us out… well I guess they gonna have to try harder because we Youngers ain’t gonna throw the towel in so easily! I wanna better life for my family, and this here neighborhood gives us opportunity, so we staying.”

A rigorous investigation about this incident will continue throughout the next few weeks to ensure that the guilty party is caught. Meanwhile, the funeral and memorial service for Travis Younger will be held on December 29th at 1:00 PM, at the Born Again Church of Chicago. All those who wish to attend and honor this little boy’s life are welcome.