City News

A Raisin in the Sun follows a black family as they attempt to improve their financial circumstances and deal with matters of discrimination and poverty.  Lorraine Hansberry’s dramatic play masterfully uses symbolism and tropes such as the classic anti-hero to cement itself as a well-loved literary masterpiece.  A great author of color, Hansberry illustrates what life was like for too many families in the 1950s.

Drawing its title from Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem,” the book’s characters, the Younger’s, are constantly forced to defer their dreams due to poverty, racism, and betrayal.  The Younger’s have fought long and hard for their success only to be denied at every turn.  This story is emotional, powerful, thoughtful, and provides incredibly meaningful insight into the black experience and identity.  Filled with a diverse cast of characters, this story can have a room laughing, crying, terrified, and joyful all within just a few little pages.  While the story may be lacking in action and thrill, it more than makes up for it with raw truth and insight into the experiences of almost 15% of our country’s current population.

At the beginning of the play, the Youngers receive an insurance check for $10,000, which is meant to be a payoff after the death of the family’s patriarch.  Having previously been forced to live in a cramped Chicago apartment, this is quite a big deal.  This money serves as a beacon of hope to each member of the family, but also as a point of division as each of them has a different plan for how to use it.  The matriarch, Mama Younger, wants to use the money to buy a house in a better neighborhood, where her children can grow up in a safer and more prosperous environment. Her son, Walter, wants to use the money to invest in a business and become a wealthy man. Walter’s wife, Ruth, wants to use the money to help the family with their financial struggles. Finally, Beneatha, Walter’s sister, wants to use the money to pay for medical school. Over the course of the play, the Youngers struggle to decide how to use the money and each of them endures hardships in pursuit of their dreams.

Ultimately, A Raisin in the Sun is a story about family, dreams, and hope.  Since its first publication in 1959 it has touched the hearts and lives of generations of readers.  A powerful exploration of family, identity, and social class, the play follows the characters on their journey to make the best of their situation, while confronting the harsh realities of poverty and racism. Hansberry’s writing is thoughtful and heartfelt, allowing the reader to connect deeply with the characters and the struggles they face. The play is also a testament to the importance of hope and dreaming, as the Younger family continues to push forward despite their hardships.

A Raisin in the Sun is a classic for a reason. It is an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of a family’s struggle to make it in a world that is determined to keep them down. The writing is beautiful and the performances, both on stage and in film, are incredible. It is a compelling story that resonates with readers of any race or class, and it should be experienced by everyone.

Check out A Raisin in the Sun from NBPL!