A Raisin In The Sun Systemic Racism Essay

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Aliza Wolf Mrs. Fanous 9 Honors Period B 5/16/24 Title For some, it is quite surprising that the area they live in today may likely be a result of systemic racism and redlining rather than an active choice they make. It’s hard to believe that historically Black or redlined areas experience 50% greater pollution today than white neighborhoods (Wamsley). Lorraine Hansberry saw that housing discrimination and redlining made it extremely difficult for African Americans to live outside of redlined areas, which motivated her to write about her experiences and struggles with these issues in A Raisin In The Sun. Unfortunately, the lasting effects of racism cause African Americans to remain in redlined areas with poor conditions as seen in recent studies …show more content…

In 1900, home ownership was less common than it is today, although it was becoming more widespread. At that time 46% of white men owned their own homes; among African-American men, the rate was much lower—only 20%.” ("Buying the Family") This reveals the dark reality of home ownership during the 1950s. This contrast in access to homeownership between Black and white communities highlights systemic racism that boldly impacts Black communities. Through this blatant discrimination, Hansberry wanted to bring attention to these injustices by advocating for equality and a fight against racism through her writing. A Raisin in the Sun now serves a powerful message informing of the struggles and injustices faced by the black community in the 1950s. Lorraine Hansberry wrote about her experiences with racism, particularly in the field of housing discrimination, in A Raisin In The Sun to advocate and spread awareness about the struggles of the African American community. During the writing of A Raisin In The Sun in the 1950s, racism remained very prominent and could be viewed in its many forms such as redlining, housing discrimination, and unjust prejudice;

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