A Dream DeferredMaria. “A Raisin In The Sun: Sean “Diddy” Combs Doesn’t Exactly Dazzle”. Jezebel. Feb. 2008. <http://jezebel.com/360306/a-raisin-in-the-sun-sean-diddy-combs-doesn’t-exactly-

dazzle>.

Introduction to Lorraine Hansberry’s

A Raisin in the Sun

To understand A Raisin in the Sun, it is important to understand the author’s

inspiration for the play and the themes she incorporated into the play.

Inspiring Events – Social Background

• Published in 1959, four years after Rosa Parks’ was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a bus, sparking the Civil Rights Movement, Hansberry’s play illustrates black America’s struggle to gain equal access to opportunity and expression of cultural identity (SparkNotes).

Maria. “A Raisin In The Sun: Sean “Diddy” Combs Doesn’t Exactly Dazzle”. Jezebel. Feb. 2008.

<http://jezebel.com/360306/a-raisin-in-the-sun-sean-diddy-combs-doesn’t-exactly-dazzle>.

Martin Luther King, Jr.Civil-Rights Leader

1929-1968

“I have a dream… a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all

men are created equal.’(Sherrod)”                                                                       

Sentiments in A Raisin in the Sun will be echoed by MLK in later speeches, marches, and rallies

Maria. “A Raisin In The Sun: Sean

“Diddy” Combs Doesn’t Exactly

Dazzle”. Jezebel. Feb. 2008.

<http://jezebel.com/360306/a-raisin-

in-the-sun-sean-diddy-combs-

doesn’t-exactly-dazzle>.

In 1954, the Supreme Court found in favor of the plaintiffs in the Brown v. The Board of Education case. However, the segregation of schools didn’t begin to take

effect until 1957. Moreover, the case’s decision did not abolish segregation in other public areas, such as restaurants and restrooms (Sherrod).

Maria. “A Raisin In The Sun: Sean “Diddy” Combs Doesn’t Exactly Dazzle”. Jezebel. Feb. 2008.

<http://jezebel.com/360306/a-raisin-in-the-sun-sean-diddy-combs-doesn’t-exactly-dazzle>.

A Raisin in the Sun is the story of the Younger family and their dreams. Every character has

had to give up on many dreams throughout their life. The

central theme of the story is of dreams deferred and of dreams

coming true (SparkNotes).

The title of A Raisin in the Sun comes a line from the poem “Harlem: A Dream Deferred” in which the

author asks what happens to a dream deferred, “does it dry up like a raisin in the

sun” (SparkNotes).

“Every member of the Younger family has a separate,

individual dream...and much of their happiness and depression

is directly related to their attainment of, or failure to

attain, these dreams” (Sherrod).

Works CitedMaria. “A Raisin In The Sun: Sean “Diddy” Combs Doesn’t Exactly Dazzle”. Jezebel. Feb. 2008.

<http://jezebel.com

/360306/a-raisin-in-the-sun-sean-diddy-combs-doesn’t-exactly-dazzle>.

Sherrod, Cheryl. Berkow, Jordan ed. A Raisin in the Sun Themes. GradeSaver, 15 June 2006 Web. 29

March 2012

<http://www.gradesaver.com/a-raisin-in-the-sun/study-guide/major-themes/>.

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on A Raisin in the Sun.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002.

Web. 21 Mar.

2012 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/raisin/context.html>.