Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This is a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspiring 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The most common topics of American history is white supremacy, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and racial injustice. King’s dream, which is still unfulfilled, hopes someday that the mindset in which African Americans are inferior will dissuade, and only then would like be treated as a human being equally. The theme of injustice (racial injustice, to be more specific) is consistent throughout A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. …show more content…

Due to the fact that the neighborhood is predominately white, Walter Lee is opposed to the idea of moving to Clybourne Park. Mr. Karl Lindner, the only major white character that appears in the play, visits the Youngers’ apartment in the slums from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He offers them more money than they are to pay for the house in exchange for not moving to Clybourne Park. He seems to be unaware of his insults to the family. He is polite, not threatening, even though everything that comes out of his mouth insults the Youngers and every African American. This is a example of denying one’s …show more content…

This form of racism is caused by one African American degrading another person of the same race. The best example of this form of racism in A Raisin in the Sun is conveyed through a character, George Murchison. George Murchison is an educated and wealthy man who is dating Beneatha Younger. His hatred of his own skin color exhibits itself through his contempt for another African Americans. George makes it obvious that he doesn’t want a strong independent woman, he just wants a object who reinforces his manliness. “GEORGE (Exasperated; rising) I know [you love to talk] and I don’t mind it sometimes…I want you to cut it out, see – The moody stuff, I mean. I don’t like it. You’re a nice-looking girl…all over. That’s all you need, honey, forget the atmosphere. Guys aren’t going to go for the atmosphere – they’re going to go for what they see. Be glad for that. Drop the Garbo routine. It doesn’t go with you. As for myself, I want a nice – (Groping) – simple (Thoughtfully) – sophisticated girl… not a poet – O.K.?” George also constantly contrasts Beneatha’s views on the subject of African identity. He seems to be knowledgeable about African civilizations, though he has no respect for the accomplishments of Africans. This is clear through this

Free Raisin in the Sun Essays: Bad Dreams
781 Words | 2 Pages
Bad Dreams in A Raisin in the Sun The issue of racism is one of the most significant themes in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. Many black men have to deal with inherent racism. The frustrations that they deal with do not only affect them, but it also affects their families as well. When Walter Lee has a bad day he can't yell at his boss for fear of losing his job.
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Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun
530 Words | 2 Pages
A Raisin in the Sun In the book “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, there were characters whose dreams were stated, some of which were shattered by greed and misfortune and others which would eventually come true. The first dream that came about was Walter’s dream of one day owning and maintaining a liquor store. He would do anything to attempt to get his dream to come true, but his mama wanted anything but that to happen. His mama had a dream of her own, though, she dreamed of one day owning her own house, where her whole family could stay comfortably.
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“A Proud-Acting Bunch”: The Issues of Suburbanization and Class Stratification in “A Raisin in the Sun”
1474 Words | 3 Pages
While the Younger family of “A Raisin in the Sun” finally realize the suburban dream of a home with “three bedrooms. and a nice big basement” African Americans of the play; rather, the younger family is met with disrespect and derision. Hansberry uses the characters of George Murchison and Mrs. Johnson to illustrate class stratification amongst African Americans during the post-war period. The scenes with these particular characters highlight the class conflict that occurred within the African American community throughout this period of suburbanization. Before seeing how class differences play an important role in “A Raisin in the Sun,” one must examine the location in which the play takes place.
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How is Racism used in A Raisin in the Sun
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How is Racism in A Raisin in the Sun. In the book there is a lot of racism that made them people separate from each other. Their was nothing that made the people be together but work. This was a big problem and still is because people treat others by their race. Racism will always exist wile people think in different ways it may change in one of the days if people change their minds. Racism isn’t only about black people but even people from different continents or with different religions. In the book A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry’s the Youngers suffered from many thing. The thing that will be mentioned are how are black people treated what things did they suffer from and how was their society like.
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Pride in A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry
1854 Words | 4 Pages
Hansberry promotes a sense of African heritage through her character, Beneatha. She characterizes Beneatha as a college student struggling to find her identity, who tries to achieve such by getting in touch with her roots. The author expresses Beneatha’s struggle with the arguments between her and the rest of her family, namely her mother, Lena. Beneatha tries to express her opinions and ideas, yet because she is the youngest in the household, she tends to feel confined and restricted. Hansberry states Beneatha’s conflict when she writes “Why? Why can’t I say what I want to around here like everybody else?” (Hansberry 39). This statement reveals how Beneatha feels as though her family lacks an understanding of her feelings as well as an appreciation of her opinion, thus leading to her feeling of needing to discover herself. Only when she begins to embrace the idea of returning to her African roots, an idea first given to her by the African exchange student, Asagai, does Beneatha’s mood appear happier and lighter. Upon Asagai’s presentation of a traditional Nigerian dress to her, Beneatha seems elated, and begins to contemplate wearing her natural hair after he comments “You wear it well—very well—mutilated hair and all” (Hansberry 48). Although, Beneatha’s happiness may in some cases be attributed to possible infatuation, Hansberry shows her true passio...
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A Comparison Of Fences And A Raisin In The Sun
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The play A Raisin in the Sun and the play Fences both share uncanny parallels which highlight the racism against African Americans during the twentieth century. A Raisin in the Sun follows the life of the Younger family who struggle with poverty but have a financial relief from the check consequential to the death of the father of the family. Similarly, the play Fences depicts the Maxson family who also struggles with money and the oppression that being African American had on people. The father Troy is the main character of Fences who struggles with accepting the fact that he was unable to achieve his dreams of becoming a star baseball player, raising tensions in his family and with his son Lyons. Walter, the trusted “head of the family” in
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Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun
1246 Words | 3 Pages
The chasing of a mirage is a futile quest where an individual chases an imaginary image that he or she wants to capture. The goal of this impossible quest is in sight, but it is unattainable. Even with the knowledge that failure is inevitable, people still dream of catching a mirage. There is a fine line that separates those who are oblivious to this fact, and to those who are aware and accept this knowledge. The people who are oblivious represent those who are ignorant of the fact that their dream will be deferred. This denial is the core of the concept used in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The perception of the American Dream is one that is highly subjective, but every individual dream ends in its own deferment.
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Theme Of Heroism In A Raisin In The Sun
1209 Words | 3 Pages
In Lorraine Hansberry “A Raisin in the Sun”, the issues of racial discrimination, the debate of heroism, and criticism is vividly displayed. The play, which was written in the late 1950’s presents itself in a realistic discerning matter that implicates the racial division among the black family and white America. The play insinuates Walters’s heroism as well because of the black family’s struggle not to become discouraged in trying to obtain the world riches and still maintaining human dignity. When Hansberry wrote “A Raisin in the Sun”, many critics questioned the motive behind her play because it showed the America the world wants to grow oblivious to. This presents the reality of racial discrimination and heroism for the black man among
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Analysis of Racial Discrimination in 'A Raisin in the Sun'
1358 Words | 3 Pages
Though there was a heightened sense of tension over civil rights in the late 1950s when A Raisin in the Sun was written, racial inequality is still a problem today. It affects minorities of every age and dynamic, in more ways than one. Though nowadays it may go unnoticed, race in every aspect alters the way African-Americans think, behave, and react as human beings. This is shown in many ways in the play as we watch the characters interact. We see big ideas, failures, and family values through the eyes of a disadvantaged group during an unfortunate time in history. As Martin Luther King said, Blacks are “...harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments…” (King 1549). In A Raisin in the Sun, and in every facet of real life, racial discrimination heavily shapes the actions of every individual both consciously and unconsciously, whether it is obvious or not.
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Racism and the American Dream in Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun
1327 Words | 3 Pages
...llow." Ruth replies by saying, "He’s rich!" That is exactly Beneatha's point. She does not want to be in a relationship with George (boyfriend) simply because he can support her financially. That is how Beneatha proves her point about looking beyond the surface. He seems her obstacle in fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor. She is a strong woman who faces the negative attitude of people with great patience. For example, when Mrs. Johnson (neighbor) says, “I know--- but sometimes she act like ain’t got time to pass the time of day with no body ain’t been to college. It’s just--- you know how some of our young people get when they get a little education” (Hansberry 527).
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A Raisin In The Sun Beneatha's Identity
1556 Words | 4 Pages
She doesn’t desire the white-picket fence lifestyle that her family does. This is proven when she says to Asagai “Go ahead and laugh - but I’m not interested in being someone’s little episode in America - one of them” (229). She wants more than the life that George can provide for her. This is the meaning behind Beneatha’s nickname “Alaiyo” given to her by Asagai, which means “One for Whom Bread—Food—Is Not Enough” (300). She wants to find independence and worth in her life, and she believes that she can do that by connecting with her African heritage, which is something George does not support. He would rather assimilate into white culture, or as Beneatha says, “give up his own culture and submerge himself completely in the dominant, and in this case, oppressive culture”
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A Raisin in the Sun Essay
1024 Words | 3 Pages
The story of “A Raisin in the Sun” is during a time where racism was still very alive and threatening to the African American race. A black family, the Younger’s is affected by this reality throughout the course of the play. Each family member is affected in a way uniquely their own. This essay will explore these occurrences and as a result what effect they have on the family.
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Walter Lee Younger
650 Words | 2 Pages
From 1954 to 1968, America was going through a transitional phase known as the civil rights movement. Back in March of 1959 right at the heart of the civil rights movement, Lorraine Hansberry wrote the play “A Raisin in the Sun,” this was at this time when we were just beginning to scratch the surface on the issues with racism in America. Through the characterization of Walter Lee Younger via his appearance and thoughts, Hansberry was able to provide a fresh perspective on racism for that time period helping people to better see the error of America’s ways and the effects racism has on individuals and communities as a whole.
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Free Essays - A Raisin in the Sun
1526 Words | 4 Pages
It becomes obvious to the reader that the racial tension Hansberry experienced growing up reflected on the way her literature is written. Moss and Wilson state that, “Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side childhood, particularly her father’s battle to move into a white neighborhood, provided the background for the events in the play” (314). Hansberry experienced many of the situations she placed the Younger family at first hand. Hansberry’s father, Carl Hansberry, was put in a similar circumstance when he moved his family into a predominately white community at the opposition of the white neighbors. He eventually won a civil rights case on discrimination. Speaking of the United States, Adler states, “A Raisin in the Sun is a moving drama about securing one’s dignity within a system that discriminates against, even enslaves, its racial minorities” (824).
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A Raisin In The Sun Racism Essay
918 Words | 2 Pages
Tahisha Jocelyn LIT 2603 4 April 2018 A Raisin in the Sun Racism is a type of prejudice, discrimination, or hatred that is directed towards someone of a different race based on the simple opinion that one's own race is superior to another. Many people find that racism can be or is very simple, or just black and white. However, it is not that simple. A major picture that is depicted in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is how racism impacted the daily life for a family that was uniquely multi generational.
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Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Free Raisin in the Sun Essays: Bad Dreams