The book Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry starts off with an epigraph that describes the plight of most of the African American people in the past as well as the present. The book opens with several lines of the poem “A Dream Deferred” which was written by Langston Hughes. Some of the lines that directly refer to the poem speak of how a dream dries up and withers in the face of constant disappointment.
Ultimately, it is summarized by the lines wherein the book acquires its title: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? ” It is very interesting to note that the poem by Hughes likens dreams which have been deferred to like a raisin in the sun. It is one of the most powerful analogies that once could ascribe to a disappointment. Lorraine Hansberry seeks to educated us and make clear to the readers that dreams—particularly those of the African American race—will almost always be postponed, set aside, abandoned and left alone. The book that Hansberry wrote was one of the most provocative portraits of African American culture in the 1950s.What’s more interesting is if one closely inspects, there hasn’t been much improvement from the past to the present times. The book Raisin in the Sun is timely as it is provocative.
This book report hopes to shed some light as to how the African American life continues to be a losing struggle against the prominence of racial discrimination. It speaks of African Americans being surrounded and going through very difficult situations simply because of racial discrimination. It is a play of poignant insights wherein one will be able to see how much African Americans endure and go through.Throughout the play, the idea of deferred dreams is a prominent theme, as each member of the Younger family attempts to find his or her place amidst a number of difficult situations. Significance to African-Americans The play was able to touch on a very sensitive subject just with its working title.
The raisin in the sun is a wonderful metaphor that speaks truthfully about the situation that African Americans experience in the United States. It is more likely a mirror of the difficulties that the average African Americans deal with on a day-to-day basis.The Youngers, in this case, make it a point that they are able to leave their difficulties behind and start a new life in a different place. (Schilb, 2004) It’s important to remember that the situation of the African Americans in the United States right now is pretty much like the status quo of years past. Even though racial discrimination is not as prevalent now as it was decades ago, there are still acts of racial prejudice that happen in today’s African American communities. Even though it is illegal to conduct housing segregation, there are people in the United States who still conduct such business.
It is also a fact that African Americans are underrepresented in some disciplines. This is probably one of the things that you can relate to Beneatha as she, along with her dreams of improving her life, took a step forward positive change and decided to become a doctor. (Schilb, 2004) This is typical of African Americans especially in the United States because since most of their lives, they have been always rejected, slandered, accused and at the same time, ignored, all they want is to be respected and for them to own their self-respect.This 1959 play is relevant to the United States of today simply because it gives courage to those who read it—especially African Americans who read it. It is very important to note that the Youngers, even though they did not have much to hold onto, still pursued their dreams of a better life by leaving town despite the potential risk that they were facing. Conclusion In closing, the play seeks to inform the people of America that action must be taken.
It begs to be heard as the different troubles of the African American people from decades ago still seems to be relevant and present today. The play speaks volumes about what it means to be drained of one’s hopes and dreams and to be left alone—much like a raisin in the sun. It is imperative that the reader realizes that being an African American in the United States is much more difficult than it seems. Challenges left and right await these people who are discriminated only by the color of their skin.
More than making the United States aware of what happened in the country’s past as well as what is happening in the present, the play effectively shouts at those who are being discriminated—those African Americans who are maligned and discriminated by the prejudiced people. The play tells them to stand up on their own two feet, take courage and fulfill their dreams. It is a battle cry for those who are weak to encourage them to be strong because with enough willpower, it is possible to change one’s situation and ultimately start a new life.
