Hansberry, Hansberry, A Raisin A Raisin in the Sunin the Sun, Drama, , Drama, and Struggleand Struggle

Mr. MocciaMr. Moccia’’s Academic English s Academic English II

HansberryHansberry

May 19, 1930 – May 19, 1930 – January 12, 1965January 12, 1965

African American African American playwright playwright – Also an author of Also an author of

political speeches, political speeches, letters, and essays letters, and essays

Early LifeEarly Life

Youngest of four children of Carl Youngest of four children of Carl Augustus Hansberry (a prominent Augustus Hansberry (a prominent real estate broker) and Nannie real estate broker) and Nannie Louise PerryLouise Perry

She grew up on the south side of She grew up on the south side of Chicago in the Woodlawn Chicago in the Woodlawn neighborhood.neighborhood.

Controversial MoveControversial Move

The family then moved into an all-The family then moved into an all-white neighborhood, where they faced white neighborhood, where they faced racial racial

discrimination discrimination Segregation in Segregation in Chicago was Chicago was not forced; not forced; but racial but racial tensions naturally tensions naturally divided the city divided the city

Supreme Court case of Supreme Court case of Hansberry versus Lee Hansberry versus Lee Hansberry's father engaged in a legal battle Hansberry's father engaged in a legal battle

against a racially restrictive covenant that against a racially restrictive covenant that attempted to prohibit African-American attempted to prohibit African-American families from buying homes in the area. families from buying homes in the area.

Though victors in the Supreme Court, Though victors in the Supreme Court, Hansberry's family was subjected to what Hansberry's family was subjected to what Hansberry would later describe as a Hansberry would later describe as a "hellishly hostile white neighborhood." "hellishly hostile white neighborhood."

This experience later inspired her to write This experience later inspired her to write her most famous work, her most famous work, A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun. .

Later HansberryLater Hansberry

Finding college to be Finding college to be uninspiring, uninspiring, Hansberry left in 1950 Hansberry left in 1950 to pursue her career to pursue her career as a writer in New as a writer in New York City. York City.

She worked on the She worked on the staff of a Black staff of a Black newspaper called newspaper called FreedomFreedom. It was at . It was at this time she wrote this time she wrote A A Raisin in the SunRaisin in the Sun. .

Basics of the PlayBasics of the Play

The story is based upon her family's The story is based upon her family's own experiences growing up in own experiences growing up in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood.

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun was the first was the first play written by a black woman to be play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as produced on Broadway, as well as the first play with a black director the first play with a black director (Lloyd Richards) on Broadway (Lloyd Richards) on Broadway

Importance of the PlayImportance of the Play

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun can be considered can be considered a turning point in American art and a turning point in American art and drama because it addresses so many drama because it addresses so many issues important during the 1950s in issues important during the 1950s in the United States the United States

Hansberry creates in the Younger Hansberry creates in the Younger family one of the first honest family one of the first honest depictions of a black family on an depictions of a black family on an American stage American stage

Importance of Play, Importance of Play, cont.cont. She uses black vernacular throughout the play She uses black vernacular throughout the play Broaches Broaches important issues important issues and conflicts, and conflicts, such as poverty, such as poverty, discrimination, discrimination, and the and the construction of construction of African-American African-American racial identityracial identity

Themes to Look ForThemes to Look For

DreamsDreams MoneyMoney FamilyFamily Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights Racial Tensions and DiscriminationRacial Tensions and Discrimination AssimilationAssimilation Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage Self-Identity and Self-ExpressionSelf-Identity and Self-Expression

SymbolsSymbols

Definition: Some reoccurring Definition: Some reoccurring image that stands for an idea image that stands for an idea beyond itselfbeyond itself

Be out on the lookout for symbols Be out on the lookout for symbols throughout the play!throughout the play!

Big Questions Big Questions

To what extent do our dreams define To what extent do our dreams define who were are? When is it OK or right to who were are? When is it OK or right to “defer” our dreams?“defer” our dreams?

How and where did racism occur after How and where did racism occur after slavery and segregation? Where does slavery and segregation? Where does it exist today? it exist today?

What about sexism?What about sexism? What does one need in order to find What does one need in order to find

self-identity? To “know thyself?”self-identity? To “know thyself?”

Unit Literary Unit Literary ObjectivesObjectives To trace two themes throughout To trace two themes throughout

the play, from a) introduction to the play, from a) introduction to b) development to c) ending b) development to c) ending statementstatement

To recognize how Hansberry To recognize how Hansberry successfully uses the vernacular successfully uses the vernacular in a powerful and poetic manner in a powerful and poetic manner