Race and Destiny

The play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ by ‘Lorraine Hansberry’ is about a matriarchy, Lena Younger or known as “Mama” to her family the Youngers who are poverty stricken family. She is about to receive insurance money from her husband’s life insurance policy, which is rightfully hers. However each member of the Youngers family we come into contact with have a plan to use the money for themselves, each individual’s through-line plays a vital role in their dreams, thoughts and choices in the end. Throughout the play the family have experiences that money can’t buy happiness and the effects of racial prejudice emerge.

The drama A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, shows the life of the Youngers, an African-American family living on the Southside of Chicago in the 1950s. In the beginning, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check for $10,000. This money comes from the deceased Mr. Younger’s life insurance policy. Each of the adult members of the family has an idea as to what he or she would like to do with this money. Mama, wants to buy a house to fulfill a dream she shared with her husband. Mama’s son, Walter Lee, would rather use the money to invest in a liquor store with his friends. He believes that the investment will solve the family’s financial problems forever. Beneatha, Walter’s sister and Mama’s daughter, wants to use the money for her medical school tuition. Ruth, Walter’s wife, discovers that she is pregnant, but

During the 1900s many black families barely had enough money to pay for the basic necessities needed to live. At times some families would receive a significant sum of money, something they were not used to getting. Deciding on how to spend this money is what caused problems among some families. In the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, she argues that there are times when in a state of financial instability and where money is a necessity to completing one’s dream that some family members choose to put their dreams over others when suddenly given the opportunity. After Mama’s husband died she was bound to receive an insurance check that would be used by the Younger family. Before even receiving the

Like a sharp cutting knife, segregation separates races while bringing unfairness and inequality along with it. For example, in A Raisin in the Sun, the setting of the Younger’s house shows us how unfair and unequal the living conditions were for African-Americans. Three generations of the Younger family share a two bedroom, run down apartment. This shows that segregation leads to unfairness and inequality portrayed by Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun through conflict between the setting, the tone between Linder versus the Youngers’, and the symbolism of the family’s actions.

Lindner states, “...as I says, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities. Our association is prepared, through the collective effort of our people, to buy the house from you at the financial gain to your family” (Hansberry 1590). The community that the Younger family are going to move in (Clybourne Park), did not want them to be part of their white neighborhood. Additionally, Racism is everywhere they go, also including in the new neighborhood they are deciding to move in. Also, “Integrating Dubois’ ideas of racism in to Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, this study reveals the belief that Blacks must severely demand their rights against racial oppressions in order to transcend and eliminate racism” (Nowrouzi). African American’s did not have the same rights as other human beings in the United States. They have to fight for what they wanted, so they could succeed. Furthermore, “This study argues that racism makes African Americans end up in unequal economic and social condition. Therefore, not being first hand citizens, Africans Americans’ effort, services and race are disdained” (Nowrouzi). Because African American’s were treated just because of their race and color they suffered through money and racism situations. As shown, people were treated differently based on what color they were. Racism was hard for colored people to face and this

The play by Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, presents an African-American family living in poverty in the 1950’s. The family receives ten thousand dollars from deceased Mr. Younger’s insurance; the money is supposed to be distributed in buying a house, Beneatha’s education, and Walter’s liquor store investment. However, Walter invests wrongly and loses more than half of the money, forcing Beneatha to consider moving to Africa to pursue an education. Beneatha Younger’s struggle with segregation while pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor demonstrates that education can be obtained with determination and discipline.

“ A Raisin in the Sun” is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry about the life of an African American family during the era of segregation. The play starts off with the Younger family receiving a 10,000 dollar check from Mr. Younger’s insurance policy. The family argues over what they are going to do with it. Mama wants to buy a house with it, Walter wants to invest in a liquor store, and Beneatha wants to use the money to go to medical school. The contrast of the characters’ personalities fuels the conflict and drives the story forward. Beneatha is a young college student and the sister of Walter. She has a dream of becoming a doctor. Beneatha is a dynamic character who is easily influenced by her family and the people

These battles are directly represented by the barbarous fighting by 10 boys in a ring, being witnessed by whites in high social standing. Totally engrossed by the fighting these men yelled cruel things and became frenzied. This is representative of the how our nation’s white population treated African Americans for many years. Often they took a stance of authority, feeling superior to the black minorities. This belief is portrayed by the men’s angered actions toward the boys.

The story of this play is simple and the majority of African-Americans faced such issues in the 1950’s, living on the south side of Chicago, struggles with poverty, dignity and dreams of a better life. Wanting better for your children and trying to fit in, while maintaining family values. A Raisin in the Sun is an excellent example of the relationship between family values and conflict. In this play it portrays: values and purpose of dreams, the need to fight for racial discrimination and the importance of family.

Throughout Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, we see the positive and negative effects of chasing the American Dream. Hansberry expresses her different views on the American Dream through the characters and she portrays the daily struggles of a 1950 black family throughout A Raisin in the Sun. In this play, she is able to effectively show the big impact that even small decisions can make on a family. Hansberry shows the many different attachments that come with the fulfillment of this American Dream. Throughout A Raisin in the Sun, each family member has their own pursuit of happiness, which is accompanied by their American Dream.

Setting is an important feature of novels. This narration takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1960. A time that saw the segregation of black people and the dominance of white people in the southern United States. In this novel the setting of 1960’s Jackson, Mississippi exposes significant themes such as racial discrimination, social partiality. The setting also supplies decisive insight into character inspirations and views.

Harsh situations are not always meant to cause disappointment, sometimes they are meant to make people stronger. In A Raisin in the Sun which is a play composed by Lorraine Hansberry, concentrates on a family that faces situations, by racial discrimination and economic complications. Despite the financial and racial issues the family faces, the Younger family will persevere. Economic issues occur in major parts to their way of living.

A Raisin in the Sun was a play written in the late 1950’s analyzing the cruel effects of racism amongst the Younger family. The younger family suffers from racial discrimination within their living space, place of employment, and the housing industry. Racism has been going on for a very long time in the United States and will always continue to exist. Racism has not only led to political but also social issues. "A Raisin in the Sun confronted Whites for an acknowledgement that a black family could be fully human, 'just like us."(qtd. White fear.) The setting took place in the ghetto, south of Chicago where mainly African Americans settled. In this division, apartments and houses were overly priced, crowded and poorly maintained. Crime rates were extremely high and most families lived in poverty. Due to segregated housing, it was a daily struggle for black families who had hopes in leaving the ghetto for better lives.

When talking to Linder about not moving into an all-white neighborhood, Walter stands up for his family and states they will still be moving in, spite of being the only black family in the neighborhood. “WALTER: What I am telling you is that we called you over here to tell you that we are very proud and that this is—this is my son, who makes the sixth generation of our family in this country, and that we have all though about your offer and we have decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he earned it… we don’t want your money” (145). Walter finally came to his senses and realized it was a true test of his character to not accept the money to stay away from a particular neighborhood because of the color of his skin. His internal conflicts to find his identity were resolved by setting a good explain for his son and follow in his proud father’s

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, illustrates the timeless struggle for the furtherance of family values and morals with extreme clarity. The play follows the life of a small black family’s struggle to keep their dreams from tenants to owners alive.