Analysis Of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930, During the time of the great depression that affected virtually every group of Americans, especially African Americans. By 1932 approximately half of black Americans were unemployed, in some northern cities whites called for blacks to be fired from any jobs as long as there were whites out of work. Racial violence against blacks became more prominent especially in the southern areas. Hansberry`s parents however were well educated citizens who fought against black prejudice. As a child her family was one of the first African Americans to move into a White neighborhood, something that was not commonly seen. When neighbors struck at them with threats of violence and legal action, they defended
In the poem, Hughes asks: "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun? His lines confront the racist and dehumanizing attitude prevalent in the American society before the civil rights movement of the 1960s, that black desires and ambition were unimportant and should be ignored." Her play is arguably one of the first to portray black characters, themes and conflicts in a natural and realistic manner addressing critical issues and conflicts such as poverty, discrimination and the construction of African American identity. It was also the first play produced on Broadway by an African-American woman, and the youngest American to win a New York Critics’ Circle award and Tony
But she finds him shallow and greatly dislikes his willingness to acculturate into white culture, and beliefs and forget about his African identity. Another is her classmate Joseph Asagai from Nigeria. He is proud of his African heritage and climaxing in education so that he can bring about a positive change and modernization in his homeland, an aspect that Beneatha admires. Throughout the play he acts as Beneatha`s moral compass guiding her in finding her identity while staying away from conformity. He also tries to teach her about her African heritage as well, condemning her straightened hair, `mutilated hair and all`, which resembles Caucasian hair, or white hair asking her if she was “born with her hair like that,” leaving her to question whether or not she is proud of her hair (African culture). Their discussion proves how serious Beneatha is about finding her identity and she cuts her hair, embracing her heritage and unwillingness to