I have a dream
-Martin Luther King, JrThe "American Dream" has been a part of our great nation since its conception. A dream which is to each American unique, but to many Americans, a dream, is all it will remain. This play looks at how racism and oppression have diluted the possibility of the "American Dream" for Americans of color, and how the social, political, and economic state of the 1950's played it's role in our history. Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun was a personal look at what the "American Dream" was to an African-American family, the Youngers, in the 1950's, and showed not only their struggles to overcome oppression but the value and purpose of dreams, and how those struggles and dreams affected them each in their own way, only to unite them in the end. The play was the first to show African Americans in real life situations, and touched on some very sensitive subjects for the time it was written. Issues like segregation, abortion, women's rights, poverty, and discrimination against blacks, to name a few, were not hot topics in a time when most white Americans viewed blacks as inferior. Hansberry was definitely ahead of her
Although, Benne likes Joseph, she is still not sure she wants to give up her independence to marry anyone at this time in her life. Post World War II America saw great economic growth and success, but brought no equal opportunities for blacks. She is the conscience and morality of the family, and proves it when she stands up to Walter on the matter of investing in the liquor store and to Beneatha when she claims not to believe in God. This is hard for Beneatha to take, but she knows it is the truth. And yet, Ruth drudges on despite her hardships, and holds on to the hope of having a happy family with Walter. Asagai has to point out to her that she is not independent at all, but must depend on the money of her father's death. The fulfillment of Mama's dream brings about Walters feelings of hopelessness. The caretaker in the family is Ruth Younger, Walter's wife, and she takes care of most of the household cooking and cleaning. The entire family also realizes this and feels a renewed resilience with Walters's newfound manhood, and it inspires a new confidence in the family and gives them the courage they need to embark on this new and hazardous endeavor. He knows it will be a constant battle for the family to live there. This creates pressure to prove himself in some way, and the liquor store is a good investment in his mind because he knows people will always drink alcohol. This is a very hard time for Ruth, a woman who has had to endure so much subjugation that her weariness makes her appear beyond her years. There were many similar cases to come and the NAACP, which started in 1909, went on to see many victories and help make it possible for African-American's today to have the same fair chance and anyone else, white, black, or purple, to live the "American Dream". Mama Younger does what is best for the family and puts a down payment on a nice little house in a white neighborhood to secure a better future for them all. In the end Beneatha comes to terms with her resentment toward Walter for losing the money, and realizes what he has been through, as a black man, in the 1950's.
Common topics in this essay:
Chicago's South,
American Dream,
Lena Younger's,
Ruth Walter's,
Asagai Nigeria,
Dream America,
II America,
African Americans,
Lena Mama,
God1001 Mama,
american dream,
family walter,
liquor store,
live american dream,
importance dreams,
raisin sun,
remains alive,
family mama,
head family,
walter feels,
live american,
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Acceptance Essays
