Free Essays - A Raisin in the Sun :: Raisin Sun essays

Racism is a major issue that has affected the United States since its discovery.   Racism is the hatred by a person of one race pointed at a person of another race. The United States has grown up to improve as a whole but this process is a long way away from completion.   Some citizens still believe that African-Americans are inferior to Caucasians and that they should be slaves.   In the 1950s, whites and blacks were segregated to a point that they could not go to the same schools or even use the same bathrooms.   Chief Justice Earl Warren abolished the segregation of schools in May of 1954.   The desegregation of schools has helped people of all races grow up together in a non-hostile environment where they can develop relationships with people of other races.   Throughout the play A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry criticizes the racial and discriminatory climate of America in the 1950s and early 60s.   It becomes obvious to the reader that the racial tension Hansberry experienced growing up reflected on the way her literature is written.   Moss and Wilson state that, â€Å"Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side childhood, particularly her father’s battle to move into a white neighborhood, provided the background for the events in the play† (314).   Hansberry experienced many of the situations she placed the Younger family at first hand.   Hansberry’s father, Carl Hansberry, was put in a similar circumstance when he moved his family into a predominately white community at the opposition of the white neighbors.   He eventually won a civil rights case on discrimination.   Speaking of the United States, Adler states, â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun is a moving drama about securing one’s dignity within a system that discriminates against, even enslaves, its racial minorities† (824).   Hansberry overcame many racial barriers to become one of the best authors in the world.   Walter Lee Younger is an intense man in his middle thirties who works as a chauffeur, but his dream is to one day open up a liquor store.   Walter has a very bad temper and tends to say things he doesn’t mean. Walter and his wife have been getting into many fights in which he will show off his bad temper.   Many times when Walter gets upset he goes out and gets drunk.   Gerald Weales explains, â€Å"Of the four chief characters in the play, Walter Lee is the most complicated and the most impressive.