A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry about a close-knit family trying to reach each of their own goals in life. The family consists of Lena Younger (Mama), her children Beneatha and Walter Lee Younger, Walter’s wife Ruth, and their son, Travis. They all live in a run down apartment in the South Side of Chicago. Mama gets an insurance check of $10,000 upon her husband’s death. Each family member has an idea of what to do with the money once they finally get it. Walter Lee wants to own a liquor store with his friends Willy Harris and Bobo, Beneatha wants to continue her college education and become a doctor, Mama wants to move to a nicer house where there are enough bedrooms for everyone to sleep in and fulfill her and her late
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During this time, Jim Crow laws segregated the South. The civil rights movement is happening and woman are not ashamed of being housewives. Mostly every woman during this period did not go to college to get a degree, and just stayed home to cook and clean for the children. When Hansberry created the character “Beneatha” she acted different than any woman during that time period. She was the modern day feminist and stood up for herself and her culture any way possible. With the character of Beneatha, Hansberry possibly encouraged many women that they could also go to college and have their dream career, and not just stay at home. This action caused some major movements in American history. There were many examples of racism during the play. In today’s era, anybody can live in any neighborhood they want to without being a specific race or …show more content…
She was born on May 19, 1930. She lived in Chicago and her family also moved to a white neighborhood as well. Hansberry’s father was a real-estate broker, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Her parents were very active in the black community. They finally had to move from their new house because there were many violent protests, and the court ordered them to do so. The case made it to the Supreme Court as Hansberry vs. Lee. When Hansberry got older, she went to college at the University of Wisconsin for two years. She then worked at a newspaper called Freedom, but left to focus on writing. Hansberry finally completed A Raisin in the Sun and it became very popular. It was translated into over 35 languages and was performed worldwide. She was the first black woman to write a play performed on Broadway, and became the youngest American playwright. She also was only the fifth woman to receive the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. She then moved to New York City and met her husband, Robert Nemiroff. He was a Jewish publisher and a political activist. She continued to write, but she died young at age 34 from pancreatic
During this time, Jim Crow laws segregated the South. The civil rights movement is happening and woman are not ashamed of being housewives. Mostly every woman during this period did not go to college to get a degree, and just stayed home to cook and clean for the children. When Hansberry created the character “Beneatha” she acted different than any woman during that time period. She was the modern day feminist and stood up for herself and her culture any way possible. With the character of Beneatha, Hansberry possibly encouraged many women that they could also go to college and have their dream career, and not just stay at home. This action caused some major movements in American history. There were many examples of racism during the play. In today’s era, anybody can live in any neighborhood they want to without being a specific race or …show more content…
She was born on May 19, 1930. She lived in Chicago and her family also moved to a white neighborhood as well. Hansberry’s father was a real-estate broker, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Her parents were very active in the black community. They finally had to move from their new house because there were many violent protests, and the court ordered them to do so. The case made it to the Supreme Court as Hansberry vs. Lee. When Hansberry got older, she went to college at the University of Wisconsin for two years. She then worked at a newspaper called Freedom, but left to focus on writing. Hansberry finally completed A Raisin in the Sun and it became very popular. It was translated into over 35 languages and was performed worldwide. She was the first black woman to write a play performed on Broadway, and became the youngest American playwright. She also was only the fifth woman to receive the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. She then moved to New York City and met her husband, Robert Nemiroff. He was a Jewish publisher and a political activist. She continued to write, but she died young at age 34 from pancreatic