A Raisin In The Sun Racial Discrimination

1295 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analyzing a raisin in the sun

Have you ever thought about how Michael Jackson became so famous and successful when the only card he was dealt with was his talent? The answer is probably through his perseverance and his strong will to want to be more than what was expected of him. This relates to A raisin in the sun by the Younger family being able to rise above the expectations of them being able to lucrative in their unusual atmosphere. They are around people that they are not welcomed by and are constantly told that they are not wanted. This book, A raisin in the sun, it has a excellent representation of this incident. A family that has been through poverty and has overcome many obstacles will probably continue to strive through challenges just as they have had to do …show more content…

Racial tension and discrimination takes a significant role of this time period. Being that this play took place during the civil rights movement makes this setting so significant to the plot. This play also takes place in Chicago, where there were no Jim Crow laws. This is important because though there was no legal discrimination, people were still racist off the record. The book has shows us this in many different examples such as Mr.Lindner. ¨LINDNER.... I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities.¨.(Hansberry) In this quote it shows how Mr.Lindner, who is representing the white community around them, demonstrates the prejudiced mindset that most of the white community possessed at the time in history. Though the book only has one representation of a caucasian person and his scene was not long, he makes a huge impact on the entire meaning and purpose of the story. With these racial disputes there has been controversy on whether or not the Youngers will survive in their new neighborhood, which is a predominantly white

Show More
Related

  • Separate Pasts Sparknotes

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ism and segregation, it is what will keep any society form reaching is maximum potential. But fear was not evident in those who challenged the issue, Betty Jo, Street, Jerry, and Miss Carrie. They challenged the issue in different ways, whether it was by just simply living or it was a calculated attempt to change the perspective of a individual. McLurin illustrated the views of the reality that was segregation in the South, in the town of Wade, and how it was a sort of status quo for the town. The memories of his childhood and young adulthood, the people he encountered, those individuals each held a key in how they impacted the thoughts that the young McLurin had about this issue, and maybe helping unlock a way to challenge the issue and make the future generation aware of the dark stain on society, allowing for more growth and maximum potential in the coming years.

    Read More

  • Racial Injustice in the Book A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

    522 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines takes place in Louisiana in the 1940’s. When a young African American man named Jefferson is unfairly sentenced to death, school teacher Grant Wiggins is sent to try to make Jefferson a man before he dies. Throughout the novel, racial injustice is shown in both Jefferson and Grant’s lives in the way other people view them.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Heroism In A Raisin In The Sun

    1209 Words  | 3 Pages

    For example, in the text, it states, “You people must be aware of some of the incidents in various parts of the city when colored people have moved into certain areas”. (Hansberry 389). With this statement, it shows that even after segregation ended in 1948 by President Truman that whites were not willing to accept change. Mr. Linder is referring to the racial violence between blacks and whites until the 1960’s when blacks were considered colored. Overcrowded living conditions and not much room for change arise in Hansberry play, which shows the racial discrimination among the Youngers and the average American black family. The census of the 1940’s and the 1950’s showed that over 50,000 units were overcrowded and ruled unlivable. “At the moment, an overwhelming majority of people out there feels that people get along better when they share a common background”. (Hansberry 389). This is Mr. Linder’s way of trying to nonchalantly say that the majority of the people in his neighborhood don’t want to live near blacks. African Americans have faced multiple disadvantages during the 1950’s. They were discriminated from homes, public affairs, and restaurants. In Hansberry play, Mr. Linder stated, “Believe me that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into”. (Hansberry 390). This is stating that they do not want to openly admit that race is the main

    Read More

  • Discrimination of Minorities in America

    928 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is hard to believe that after electing a minority president, the United States of America can still be seen as a vastly discriminatory society. A question was posed recently after a viewing of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream…” speech of whether his dream has become a reality. After consideration, a majority of the viewers said no. Although many steps have been taken to improve racial equality in America, there is still no way to legislate tolerance. Dr. King’s message of equality for all has been lost in a black and white struggle over the taken meaning of his context. Until our society can allow all people to live in peace we will never truly achieve King’s dream. Case in point, referring to President Obama as our "our First Black President" should not be considered a statement of pride over how far we have come. Placing this racial qualifier, even in a positive light, only serves to point out his minority status, not the fact that he is the President of the United States. According to Dr. King's dream, a man or woman, black or white, would be viewed as President without qualifying their differences from mainstream America.

    Read More

  • Racism In The Secret Life Of Bees By Sue Monk Kidd

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    The segregation in the southern states is very prominent during that time period. For instance, Lily’s housekeeper Rosaleen could not live in the same house as Lily, nor could she worship in the same church. Lily finally had enough of her abusive father T.Ray and decided to run away along with their housekeeper Rosaleen who she broke out of jail. The only place she desired to go was the town written on one of her mother’s pictures. On the back of a photograph of a black version of Mary Lily’s mother had written the town Tiburon. Lily and Rosaleen arrive at the outskirts of Tiburon, after a combination of hitchhiking and walking, hungry and tired. As Lily shopped in a convenience store for lunch she noticed a jar of honey with the picture of the same black Mary as her mother’s picture. The store clerk points them in the right direction and they end up at the Botwright's house. As she is conversing with August Botwright Lily notices something peculiar. As she lies on her cot she thinks to herself; “T. Ray did not think colored women were smart. Since I want to tell the whole truth, which means the worst parts, I thought they could be smart, but not as smart as me, me being white. Lying on the cot in the honey house, though, all I could think was August is so intelligent, so cultured, and I was surprised by this.” (Kidd.78). Meeting and interacting with August depicts how much involuntary prejudice she had inside of her that she was not previously aware of. Lily used this experience to learn how you can’t judge a person based off their race and made herself rethink her thoughts on African-American people. Lily’s first meeting August contributes to the theme of not judging people based off of prejudice because August disproves Lily’s stereotype that African-Americans couldn’t be as smart as

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of Racial Discrimination In America

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Racial discrimination is a pertinent issue in the United States. Although race relations may seem to have improved over the decades in actuality, it has evolved into a subtler form and now lurks in institutions. Sixty years ago racial discrimination was more overt, but now it has adapted to be more covert. Some argue that these events are isolated and that racism is a thing of the past (Mullainathan). Racial discrimination is negatively affecting the United States by creating a permanent underclass of citizens through institutional racism in business and politics, and creating a cancerous society by rewriting the racist history of America. Funding research into racial discrimination will help society clearly see the negative effects that racism

    Read More

  • Conflict in August Wilson's Fences and How it Affects the Work

    1365 Words  | 3 Pages

    life in the mid to late twentieth century and the strains of society on African Americans. Set in a small neighborhood of a big city, this play holds much conflict between a father, Troy Maxson, and his two sons, Lyons and Cory. By analyzing the sources of this conflict, one can better appreciate and understand the way the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Fickett Family In Edgar Allen By John Neufeld

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    A factor in these sudden changes was how Mother and Father Fickett were affected. “... checkout lady had kept Mother waiting a very long time… when Mother’s turn finally came, she closed the line. So, Mother had to go to another clerk, and then to another… Mother became mad and said something about it. But no one answered her, and no one served her.” (Neufeld, page 70). This shows that after the town’s people learned that the Ficketts had adopted a Black child, people refused to serve them, they did not want the family to disrupt the town’s lifestyle. Just going out in public was a strain on everybody. When Michael asks about what they wanted, Father told him, “‘What the men from the church said Michael,’ he said after a very long time, ‘ was that if we decided to keep Edgar Allan, the church might ask me to leave. ’”(Neufeld, page 62). This scene shows Father’s job is being threatened and he’s being pushed into a corner. Father the same as the rest of his family had to alter their own response and were forced to change what they did in everyday life. The family had to alter their own lifestyles to do what they believed was

    Read More

  • Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lastly, racism still exists today. The Youngers faced racism before they even moved into their new house when Mr. Linder offers the Youngers money in exchange for moving somewhere else. Mr. Linder and the rest of the white community thought this decision was for the best for the community. Mr. Linder gives them the offer without even giving the family a chance, thus showing prejudice.

    Read More

  • Amy Tan's The Cult Of Discrimination In The American Culture

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Schlesinger, in "The Cult of Ethnicity" America was "inescapably English in language, ideas and institutions" and it still is. Amy Tan 's "Mother Tongue" supports that nothing has changed, America is still "inescapably English in language". To be treated as an American one has to speak fluent English and if one doesn 't it makes them seen and feel inferior, creating an image that non - English speakers don 't deserve respect. Therefore different ethnicities in America should assimilate to avoid discrimination.

    Read More

  • Essay On Racial Discrimination

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    Why does racism continue to take place in the United States today? According to the sociology textbook Our Social World, minority groups are ones that differ from the dominant group, which is why they have less power, fewer privileges, and are discriminated against. The textbook also explains how there are numerous ways for dominant and minority groups to interact. Genocide is the killing of the minority group by the dominant group, while pluralism is the complete opposite whereas different ethnic or racial groups accept one another’s beliefs and values, and manage to respect each other. Multiple strategies to cope with prejudice, discrimination, and racism are used by minority groups to deal with their statuses: passing (blending in with dominant groups), acceptance, avoidance, and aggression. In America, racism against minority groups has improved, but is nowhere near ending. To determine people’s opinions on racism and why it exists, I

    Read More

  • Racial Discrimination and The Civil Rights Movement

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Racial discrimination was brought to the peak of popularity in mass media in the 1960's with the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. Southern United States was the front line of the battle for equal rights for not only black men, but also black women. The unification through the terrors of racism brought hope and a fighting chance to the cause. Kathryn Stockett uses the characterization of Minny Jackson through point-of-views of herself and other characters in her novel, The Help, to develop the conflicting ideas of the African American women ideology, Africana womanism.

    Read More

  • African American Discrimination in the United States

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    NO! NO? This is the word most often heard by African Americans throughout our vivid history. Although at one time we were a majority of judgment and unfair discrimination, it is now more than likely safe to say, white or black, we are proud to be Americans. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird she elucidates what it was like, during the 1930s, to live in a small town who often put judgment before thought.

    Read More

  • Skin Color Discrimination In The United States

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    Skin color discrimination is a very common situation in this world. This phenomenon usually happens in our life, sometimes we will face unfair treatment. Skin color discrimination is defined as "a form of prejudice or discrimination in which human beings are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin color" in the freedicionary.com. In other words, it is talking about different skin color which has different treatments and it is not fair. For example, we work in a company and another person has the same work content with you, but his/her salary is higher than yours. After you knew why their salary was higher than yours, you might understand that it is because of skin color discrimination.

    Read More

  • An Essay About Racial Discrimination

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    In some countries, racial discrimination is acute, violence and so on that are some ways to solve different problems, it is not even questioned. In today 's society often happen racial discrimination problems, such behavior destroy the people to go abroad. Even harm to other people 's life safety. This is making a lot of foreigners to protect their own security, and give up their studies and works, they want not to go outside. 'Attacks on Chinese student at Paris metro stirs concerns ' French women attacked Chinese students, event alerted the important leaders of the two countries. Because of their behavior were represent a country in the eyes of foreigners. I visited New York in first time, I suffered some American to abused me. I was very angry. Racial discrimination, this is making a person life uncomfortable. I think people are equal, we should correct treat the problem. We should get on well

    Read More

More about A Raisin In The Sun Racial Discrimination

Open Document