A Raisin in the Sun

Based on the Broadway play by Lorraine Hansberry in 1959 to which a film adaptation was made in 1961 that starred its original cast including Sidney Poitier as Walter Younger, “A Raisin in the Sun” tells of the struggle of an African American family during the tumultuous peak of racial segregation in the United States in the 1950’s.

The Younger family, who lived in the suburban ghettos of Chicago, finally found a new sense of hope when an insurance amounting to $10,000 was received by Lena for her husband’s death.  All the members of the family had different ideas on how the money should be spent.

Walter Lee wants it invested in a liquor store, Beneatha wants to use it to finance her medical studies and their mother, Lena wants to buy a house.  To accommodate everyone’s plans, Lena used a portion of the money to purchase a new house and apportioned the rest for Walter’s business plans, Beneatha’s studies and some for herself.  She gave the money to Walter for keeping.
The house that Lena purchased in Clybourne Park turns out to be located in a racist neighborhood that dislikes non white residents. Mr. Lindner, a representative from neighborhood association, offered the Younger family to repurchase the house to keep the black family away from the neighborhood, which the latter apparently turned down.
  As the family gets ready to relocate, a horrible incident occurred. Walter squandered the family’s money including Beneatha’s funds for schooling in a fraudulent deal with his deceitful partner, Willy Harris.  Willy took the invested money and just disappeared.
The misfortune shattered the hopes and dreams of the family and disoriented their illusion of a better life. They blew away this one time opportunity that could change their life.  The new house that was suppose to signify a new beginning seemed to swear  a new episode of adversity as the neighbors have signified their abhorrence to their color.
While the money that promises them a better future have gone wasted. In a last bid to redeem himself, Walter contacts Linder to reconsider the offer.  However when Linder arrives, Walter realized that there is more to life than wealth.   He realized the need to stand up for their rights and stand up against racism.  The future may seem dim and risky especially considering that they are in a white neighborhood and they lost all their money, but his family can manage to pull it through as long they stay together.
Racism
The fight against racism has come a long way.  Before the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in the mid 1900’s, racial oppression in US is rampant and has institutionalized itself in the fabrics of American society.  The story of the Youngers provided a glimpse into reality and struggles of African Americans in a racist society.
The Youngers actually represented the typical African American family beset in poverty and discrimination.  During the time of slavery, racism is accepted as a norm for its economic value. In the 1950’s however, slavery has metamorphosed itself to fit within the new economic design. Segregation is manifested in the socio economic constitution of society.
Economic stratification is based on race as the black people usually end up in low paying jobs.  Lacking both the education and opportunity, Walter and Ruth represents the modern black slave in the 1950’s.  Walter works as a chauffeur and his wife Ruth, works as a domestic helper.  They are both paid servants of the white people.
The novel also reflected the different predilections on how African Americans reacted to racial segregation in society.  Walter, Lena and Ruth personified the African Americans struggling within the oppressive framework of society. They endeavor to have a better life within their meager means.
Thus, they tend to resort to a lot of wishful thinkings and accept distorted views about the world.  Ruth in particular, thought about having an abortion to avoid the additional financial burden of having another child.  Walter on the other hand dismisses his misfortune by apathetically accepting is as a reality in life. “Life is divided up between the takers and the tooken and some of us always getting tooken”.   (Hansberry)
Beneatha and her suitor, Asagai, represents that new generation of enlightened African Americans, who are educated, independent and promising. Beneatha’s broad thinking eventually led her to realize of her mistaken sense of independence as he recognized her unconscious reliance to his father’s insurance money to fulfill her dreams of becoming a doctor. Incidentally, Beneatha’s cut hair symbolized her repudiation against white dominated cultural conventions.
Beneatha’s hairstyle reflected African identity and culture and she wears it with pride.  Asagai, on the other hand, demonstrates his pride of his African heritage. He portrays the African American set on a mission to help his fellow black brethren to trace their roots to Africa and reconstruct or restore their lost identity. In doing so, he hopes to bring positive change and help provide better direction to African Americans and become more productive and effective citizens.
In contrast to them are Willy Harris and George Murchison.  The former is Walter’s business partner who ran away with the family’s money.  The latter is Beneatha’s conceited suitor, who came from a rich family and has managed to immerse themselves in the white culture.  Willy and George represent the black people who are indifferent of the plight of the black community.
Willy has a confounded idea of surviving even at the expense of his black brethren with an utter disregard of the feelings of people. Willy creates the African Americans image that has a criminal penchant and a tautological menace to civilization. On the other hand, George’s indifference to the troubles of racial bigotry springs from his myopic view of life and the affluence he enjoys.  Money has a way of shaping people’s thoughts regardless of race.  “The only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored people” (Hansberry)
Of Dreams, Hopes and a Home
The novel tells of the perseverance of dreams, the unions and conflicts that emanate in pursuit of dreams, the perpetual struggle against all forms of oppression and the liberation and fulfillment that one obtains in the process or in the failure.   Every member of the Younger family has his and her own individual dreams but shares one single dream of a better home and better life.
Lena wants a new house, Beneatha wants to become a doctor and Walter wants to have a business.  But all of them actually wanted just a better life and better home.  Unfortunately, they all have misunderstood the idea of a better home. For Lena, a better home means getting away from the Ghetto and finding a new house.
Beneatha equates a better life with getting an education, being a professional, being able to live independently and getting respect that any black person deserves.  Walter on the other hand, has a more practical view of a better home.  It is about having more money and greater means to provide for one’s family.
The advent of the insurance money gave the family a new sense of hope of that better home.  That hope was lost when the money got lost.  However, it took this inopportune fate to happen for the family members to realize that they are already living the home they are dreaming of.
The real hope resides on them and not on any other material thing such as money. For as long as they stay together as a family, any place is a better home. Hence, while Walter was not able to build the liquor business he dreamed of, or Beneatha did not become the doctor that she wanted to be or Lena getting the house in a quiet place he dream about, the Younger family found the real home by sticking with each other through thick and thin. “There is always something left to love.
And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing”.  (Hansberry) Despite the insufficiency of wealth, the lack of the status and prestige and the absence of a serene environment in their new found place, the Younger’s new house will always be a home to the family so long as there is love, understanding and faith among the members.
Conclusion
A Raisin in the Sun is about the struggle of a typical African American family for a more economically better life amidst the racial discrimination prevalent in the American society.  While the different circumstances of the characters in the story demonstrated the tyranny of racism and the different ways of how African Americans handle and face this predicament, in the end, every body realizes that the only way to fight the adversities in life including racism and economic depravity is by holding on to each other.
The Younger family is set to live in the white neighborhood ready to face the risks of discrimination that awaits them.  The Younger family is now ready to face the economic challenges that will continue to befall them.  They are confident that as long as they remained solid as a family and remain true to each other, they can overcome all the challenges and obstacles in life.
Bibliography
Hansberry, Lorraine (2000). A Raisin in the Sun. Holt, Rinehart and Winston