A Man 's World, A Woman 's Love

Walter Lee is the most troublesome person in the Young family. He harvests feelings of inadequacy as a man because he has not accomplished much with his life. Walter is the third generation born in the US. He’s 35 years old working as a chauffeur subject to only driving his white boss around town. As an African American living in the 1950’s the jobs that were available in industries or business were limited to the menial or subservient job positions. The windows of opportunities for a black African American in this country were limited to a small level of success. Walter’s dream of becoming a business man is was just that, a dream. He does not have the proper educated needed to be a successful business man. It is just an image he wants to fulfill

Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun,” was a radically new representation of black life, resolutely authentic, fiercely unsentimental, and unflinching in its vision of what happens to people whose dreams are constantly deferred.

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.

In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, and 1961 movie written by Lorraine Hansberry and presented by Columbia pictures, one of the most important themes is the American Dream. Many of the characters have hopes and dreams. They all strive towards their goals throughout. However, many of the characters have different dreams that clash with each other. Problems seem to arise when different people’s dreams conflict with one another.   Another theme is racism. Racism was rampant during the 1950’s and this often hindered African American dreams.

Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, addresses the hardships of an African-American family living in the projects of post-segregation Chicago. The family aspires to fulfill their dreams of owning a home despite the odds they face. W.E.B Du Bois critical race theory explains the issue of racism and white dominance that not only the family in the play faces, but the African American community as a whole.

Every black male's plight in America can be regarded as a provider for his family. However, society does not afford black males the benefit of feeling secure about providing for their families. It can be easy for anyone to criticize society and place the blame on America for not affording Walter the opportunities of his white counterparts. Walter does not have control over his own responsibilities. Therefore, if he was given all the resources needed to provide his family his poor judgement and lack of business sense would create further stress on the family. Ruth, Mama, and his sister Beanetha attack him from every angle about his doubtful ideals. Ironically, those ideals are what Walter needs to shape and justify his manhood. Without ideals and proper resources to obtain them, a man's existence can be regarded as insignificannot

Blacks and whites were still separated; however, had some contact with each other at work. Accordingly, Ruth worked as a maid, and Walter Younger worked as a chauffeur, both being employed by wealthy white families. The setting of the play was in a ghetto apartment on the south side of Chicago. Until near the end of the play, interaction with whites was limited until Mr. Linder arrived from a white neighborhood where the family had recently purchased a new home with insurance money claimed from Ruth’s husband who passed away. Mr. Linder arrives with his offer of buying the house back from them, intended to keep their neighborhood segregated, and “…that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families when they live in their “own” communities.”, but the Younger’s refused. The Youngers were a poor family, but they were fiercely proud of it and what they believed in. They kept the house and chose to stand up for themselves (Hansberry, 1994). This is how African-Americans were treated in the 1950s and 60s, but the way they responded by standing up for themselves is what gave them their equal rights they have

It was a common fear among the African-Americans. The Younger Family knew that the discrimination would hold them back from their dreams and goals, but because they believe in prosperity and pride, that was the last thing on their mind. The “want” in their spirits, is what sets them at place of tranquility and hope. “In fact, here’s another fifty cents… buy yourself some fruit today - or take a taxicab to school or something! (1.1.1840) Walter is letting his son know that there is no problem when it comes to their economic status. One of the difficulties that the adults faced was their self-righteousness. The discrimination was really enabled when it came to anything in their life. Whether it be buying certain houses, jobs, or even sitting in a restaurant, it was something so common; they learned that it is far more important for their child to know how to live with no fear and worrisome in life. When it came to Walter, he knew that keeping the innocence in Travis’ life was the right thing to do, where for Ruth she was far more upright. The self-doubt they displayed was becoming a burden in their lives, but that transformation and growth is what helped them come to a better understanding of themselves. The Younger Family’s moral development would be their sense of pride, and Mama’s destiny was to continue that pride. Mama’s development within herself had grown to great measures, but when it came to her

Imagine living the life of a black man, in the South Side of Chicago with a job going nowhere and hopes of living the American Dream. “The American Dream is the belief that in the United States of America, hard work and determination can lead to better life, usually through the earning of money”(American Dream). Walter, his wife Ruth and son Travis, lives with his sister Beneatha and Mama in a crowded apartment. Walter’s days are occupied with frustration and hatred, being a chauffeur to Mr.Arnold , a white guy, his employer. Walter Sr, Mama’s husband was a proud man, who passed on, and left Mama with insurance money. Money that can help buy a nicer house, money that caused Mama to be cautious. Walter’s dreams were to start a business with

But Mama thought about it and how she can use that money to support her family. Mama could not stand to see her breaking apart. So she used half of the money to put a down payment in a white neighborhood. Especially Ruth witch is walter's wife was really excited because she doesn't have to abort her baby now that she doesn't have to live in a cramped apartment. When mama seen walter she said “ Son you understand what i done don't you?

In the play A Raisin in the Sun written by Lorraine Hansberry, a story about an African American family living in Chicago. The book illustrates what the daily problems of an average black family had to deal with while living in America in the 1950s and their struggle of overcoming obstacles to reach their “dream”. Hansberry use this novel to address topics such as racism, racial inequality, and racial discrimination. In 1954, many people during that time supported segregation. People perceived whites and blacks completely different and people wanted them to be separate. Everywhere in the south had “whites only” or “colored”, and many wanted to keep it that way. History will always repeat itself and people are not

After the first argument with Linder, Walter makes him an unofficial deal which leads to Mama and Ruth being disappointed in him, and motivates Walter to contact Linder again, only to hear him say- “Well, I certainly was glad to hear from you people.” Linder refers to the Younger family as “you people”, implying the fact that they are below equal. This shows how segregation really leads to unfairness in more aspects than one, including communication. Linders response sets something off within Mama. Mama is a very proud individual when it comes to her race and culture, so Linder making her family this offer does not interest her at all, in fact, Mama gets very unhappy with Walter because of his unofficial agreement with Linder. She then says to Walter-“Son I come from five generations of people who was slaves and sharecroppers but ain’t nobody in my family never let nobody pay ‘em no money that was a way of telling us we wasn’t fit to walk the earth.” This quote reveals how upset Mama is with the Linder situation and how the way they are treated impacts

For the Younger family, having a good paying job is a part of their American Dream, but sadly they have a difficult time trying to achieve this aspect of the dream due to their race. Most African Americans during the 1950’s made significantly less money than White Americans. “The average black household income in 1955 ($2,890) was 55 percent of that of white households ($5,228)” (Fuller par. 4). This difference in income was because of the jobs that were open for colored individuals. Like Mama, Ruth and Walter, most Blacks had service jobs that usually served Whites. For instance, Walter is a chauffeur for a white man. This low paying job barely allows him to provide for his family and definitely does not fulfill his American Dream. Walter states “I open and close car doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine…. That ain 't no kind of job…. Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me…, just waiting for me” (Hansberry 477-478). Walter aspires for a better job, which leads him to want to use Mama’s money to invest in a liquor store, but his race keeps him confined to blue-collar jobs. Back

Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, centers on an African American family in the late 1950s. Hansberry directs her work towards specifically the struggles faced by African Americans during the late 1950s. Through the dialogue and actions of her characters, she encourages not only a sense of pride in heritage, but a national and self-pride in African Americans as well.

Mama is also having to difficulties because of race,she is also struggling because of race . Mama is the mother of Walter and Beneatha, grandma of Travis and mother in law of Ruth. Mama has a plant that represent or symbolizes the younger family and she loves that plant a lot. One quote that shows that she is having trouble because of race, is “ The house they put up for colored in them areas way out all seem to cost twice as much as other houses . I did the best I could ’’ ( Hansberry 93 ). Mama means that in the black neighborhood they would have to pay even more than they payed in the white neighborhood. Also that people don’t want to mix blacks and whites together. Mama didn’t want to waste a lot of money so she bought it where the whites live so the don’t wasted a lot, they expect for dark skin people to pay more than whites should pay. Another quote that I found that relates to race is “ I see ... him … night after night … come in … and look at that rug … and then look at me … the red showing in his eyes … the veins moving in his head … I seen him grow thin and old before he was forty … working and working and working like somebody’s old horse … killing himself … and you you give it all away in one day ”( Hansberry 129 ). Mama is trying to say that in that time there was even less opportunities especially to a dark skin person like big Walter but big Walter did whatever he could to provide for his family even if it takes everything. Also