Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: How Generations Change

Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry: How Generations Change

In our survey we were able to experience Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a about a family of African Americans struggling to make it in a "white man's world" in the early 1960's. Raisin in the Sun was originally a written work but later turned into a stage play. After the success of the Broadway play Raisin in the Sun was transformed into a film version released in 1961, being one of the highest funded African American productions; Ruby Dee and Sidney Portier part were a part of the dynamic cast. Hansberry portrayal of a struggling African American family was very efficient and did brilliant job expressing the hardships of a working class family of color.

Raisin in the Sun was meant to portray the development of black culture after slavery, changes in generational expectations, and showed African Americans how they were soon to take a role in society which was just the beginning for the Black Arts Movement.

Raisin in the Sun is the perfect example of the development of black culture after slavery and how generations following had higher expectations when it was related to their role in society and their future. This film also showed how the African American race would become just as successful and keep the "White Man" wondering what the black man was to conquer next. The film was overly dramatic at times but that only made the audience, including myself more eager to know what was next and how the scenes would play out with the theme of the story.

Raisin in the Sun proved how the African American culture was developing and becoming more immune to the white man's world. An example of this idea in the film was when Mama stepped out on faith and bought a house in a white neighborhood after receiving the check that was sent to her and the family. This was a great example because although Mama Lena knew her and her family would be the only blacks in the neighborhood she was determined not to give the white man what he wanted. Mama Lena was determined not to give the white man what he wanted because she felt as if her husband and prior generations worked too hard not to have what they desired out of life. In this time period African Americans were becoming working class individuals and were becoming more comfortable in their own skin. All these characteristics show that African American were adjusting to their new lifestyle after slavery and was going to continue to work hard at being successful in a cold world.

In the Film Raisin in the Sun, Walter Lee and his younger sister Beneatha longed for success and were determined to be more than just another working class African American. Walter Lee wanted to have a successful business and become a successful black man who could provide for his family and live comfortably. Walter's sister, who was trying to come to terms with which she was, longed to be a doctor and marry a wonderful man. Although she did not have the money to go to medical school she continued to keep hope alive and did not give up on her dream. The two siblings were examples of how African Americans expectations in life were beginning to change because they were beginning to see how good life could be. Walter Lee, who was working as a chauffeur, was exposed to the good life by the wealthy man he worked for. This experience made lead Walter Lee to believe he could live that lifestyle one day if he remained driven to have what he wanted. Beneatha, who was a student yearning to better herself and live out her dream was not going to give up so easy on what she wanted in life. She had men who were willing to help fulfill her goals in life but was very hesitant about their assistance. Along with higher expectations for life, the two siblings struggled to love each other because the fight for success was beginning to tear their tight knit family apart.

In addition to the family's higher expectations in life, the family began to face a lot of hate and selfishness, not by the white man but from each other. These changes were a result of generational development. Since the family expected so much out of life they began to lose morals and forget about stern and religious upbringings. Mama Lena taught her children to love one another no matter if they were right or wrong, and to stand behind each other's dreams. Walter Lee begins to lose his insanity because what he wanted so bad he felt as if he would never get it.

His life experiences seemed as if they would never get better and would never find a peace of mind. He turns against his wife and does not give her the attention she needs when he finds that she is pregnant and considering abortion. Mama Lena was so disappointed in her son because she