• Born in Chicago in 1930; One of first families to move into white neighborhood;
• Neighbors threatened them with violence & legal action; Hansberry’s father successfully brought his case to Supreme Court

A Raisin in the Sun

• First play to portray black characters, themes, & conflicts in a natural & realistic way
• Autobiographical
• Title inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem”

Setting

• Mid-1950’s
• Chicago south side
• Younger apartment

Characters

Walter Lee Younger

• Protagonist
• Dreamer

Beneatha Younger (Bennie)

• Intellectual

Lena Younger

• Matriarch Of Family: Mother & Grandmother
• Religious, Moral, Maternal

Ruth Younger

• Wife & Mother

Travis Younger

• Young Son

George Murchison

• Wealthy African-American
• Assimilationist

Joseph Asagai

• Nigerian College Student
• Proud Of African Heritage

Karl Lindner

• Only White Character

Mrs. Johnson

• Nosy neighbor

Themes/Issues

• Racial Discrimination
• Poverty
• Segregation
• Feminist Movement
• Assimilationism Vs. Identity (African Culture)
• Issue of God (Anti-God Movement) Belief in God Vs. Science (Darwinism)
• Materialism Vs. Family Values
• Black Male Search  For Identity
• Stereotypes

Language

• Black Vernacular

Point Of View

• Omniscient

Plot

• Poor Black Family Struggling To Realize Their Individual Dreams In A Segregated Society

Conflicts

• External: Man Vs. Society; Man Vs. Man
• Internal: Man Vs. Self