The lack of opportunities is initiated by Lutie’s incapability to keep the house. This was one of the main challenges that were witnessed by the black women during this era (Petry 66). As a result of the fact that in the beginning of 20 th century the black women during didn’t have any means of supporting themselves, except if they were eager to sell their bodies. In the novel, the author states that The Street’s readers observe the difficulty that the main character has in setting up and upholding a practical space called “home”. The apartment itself together with the walls usually frighten Lutie and her son consequently making their small home not a residence of shelter, but quite a house of fear. The home of Lutie and her son, Bub Johnson, shows the contradiction against the image of the public home.

Lutie Johnson struggles to see through her walls of oppression in form of forced submission to a white male-dominating society. “The Street” revolves around a critical point and absorbs the reader by the hard work Lutie does and the phases that she has to go through for a better life for herself her son (Petry 30). The challenges, ups and downs, which are faced by Lutie, are also felt by her son. In order to provide the life that she wants for herself and Bub, the woman has to make some very significant decisions. Lutie is introduced into the novel not only in terms of the racism issue she is also discriminated and is a subject of sexism. Lutie attempts to do her best in providing the finest life she could for herself, and her son, despite the fact that she has to face all the difficulties that life tosses on her way. The gender and race are the key factors of her position in the book. Lutie is an African-American woman and a single mother. Petry gives her readers an opportunity to place themselves into the position of the main character, Lutie Johnson. A novel “The Street” by Ann Petry displays to the readers a hard life on the streets of Harlem.

Lutie johnson the street