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     Martin Luther King Jr is known worldwide for his leadership and his determination to put an end to racial injustice and segregation. King is specifically recognized for his “I Have A Dream” speech but some of his other work is not talked about as much. His “Letter from Birmingham Jail” tends to be overlooked although it is equally powerful and impactful. After participating in a nonviolent demonstration in an effort to end segregation, King along with several others were arrested. The protest took place in Birmingham, Alabama, also known as one of the most segregated cities during the time. After months of boycotting white-owned businesses and gaining no progress in their efforts, King and others felt the only choice was to take direct action. However, they ignored a recently passed law that banned public gatherings without a permit. Not long after King’s arrest, a friend snuck in a copy of a newspaper that contained a letter written by eight religious leaders criticizing the protests as well as King himself. The letter labeled King as an instigator looking to cause trouble. Upon reading the letter, King sat in his jail cell writing his response. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Martin Luther King Jr. uses Metaphors, Imagery, and Allusion to assert his argument and express the need for change.  

     In the letter, King uses the metaphor, “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly”(836). This statement highlights the interconnectedness of humans, implying that all humans are connected in some way, united by a common fate. He compares humans to threads in a garment, just like the interconnected threads affect each other, humans also impact one another. What happens to one person can have an indirect impact on the rest of society. It is clear that King used this metaphor to address the need for everyone to stand up against inequalities and work towards creating an equal society. People tend to be selfish, only focusing on themselves. However, King creates a new way of thinking as he emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and recognizes the need for unity. He believed that when injustice occurs in one place it can spread and jeopardize justice in other places, no matter how far the places are. This quote evokes a motivational response because it gives the readers a different perspective; King’s goal is to motivate people to act and persuade others to help make a change and through this quote he does exactly that.  Additionally, King uses imagery to describe the horrible treatment that people of color experienced. His use of imagery allows the reader to visualize the horrible conditions he describes. In the letter, King states, “…when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she cannot go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her little eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky, and see her begin to distort her little personality by unconsciously developing a bitterness toward white people…”(839). This quote leaves the reader heartbroken as they envision the struggles of racism and the effects it has on people even from a young age. It depicts a parent’s struggle to explain to their child why they cannot enjoy the same experiences as white children. King uses the words “seeing the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky” to show that what is supposed to be a “happy place” can be viewed in such a negative manner, all depending on the color of your skin. This quote clearly shows how damaging segregation is and the effect it has on people. King incorporated this quote to allow the reader to feel the same pain the young girl faces not being able to go to the amusement park. Through his use of imagery, it clearly shows inequalities and once again emphasizes the need for change. Lastly, in his letter, King uses Allusion to connect his ideas to historical figures. For example, he states “was not Thomas Jefferson an extremist? — “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” So the question is not whether we will be extremist, but what kind of extremists we will be”(845).  King utilizes the use of historical references to establish a sense of common ground with the audience. In this specific Allusion, King uses a reference to Thomas Jefferson (who was highly viewed) stating that he was also labeled as an extremist. After being labeled as an extremist, he switched his point of view on the definition and took pride in it. King states that being an extremist should not have a negative meaning instead people should be proud(depending on what it is one is extreme about). He also states the difference between extremisms- some are fueled by hate and others are fueled by love. He attempts to influence his audience to choose the right one which he feels is being an extremist who is motivated by justice.  It is evident that through literary devices, King is able to write a successful letter, showing the reader the urgency for change and evoking the audience to feel motivated to take action. 

     Although he is primarily known for his infamous “I Have A Dream” speech, it is clear that pieces like “Letter from Birmingham Jail” are just as motivational and powerful. Without a doubt, King evokes several strong emotions in his audience while reading this letter. Through the usage of Metaphors, Imagery, and Allusions, King allows others to understand his point of view and the problems of inequalities, segregation, and racism that not only he faced but millions of people have also faced.

 

Discussion Questions: 

1. King feels that being an “extremist” should not always carry a negative connotation. Do you agree or disagree with this perspective? Why or why not?
2. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” is a well-known quote from the letter. Does it still apply to the world today? Why/why not? 

Citations: 

King, Martin Luther, Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail. Penguin Classics, 2018.

Maranzani, Barbara. “Behind Martin Luther King’s Searing ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 31 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/news/kings-letter-from-birmingham-jail-50-years-later. 

     Martin Luther King Jr. is without a doubt one of the most well-known civil rights activists in history because of his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream” speech. Both his speech and letter pushed Americans to recognize the racial inequalities that have been brought upon African Americans and the injustice of them. Throughout Jenn M. Jackson’s article, “Martin Luther King Jr. Was More Radical Than We Remember,” the term “radical ” appears an eye-opening number of times to characterize King and his contributions to the battle for equality in America. Jackson’s word choice pushes readers to realize the extent of work King contributed to society throughout his fight, which has clearly been underacknowledged. “Radical” as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “very different from the usual or traditional: Extreme.” Given that the word “radical” is most often used with a negative connotation, it is interesting that Jackson uses it 11 times in this piece—including in the title to describe one of the most admirable activists. 

     We learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic “I Have a Dream Speech” from a young age. However, the arguments made in this speech, why it was made, and for whom it was made are not discussed in true depth, and the overall meaning of his speech is rarely acknowledged in the way it was originally intended. We simply learn and discuss the not-so-controversial ideas and beliefs that King had, which barely touch the surface of the true issues of racism. As Jackson points out, the significance of this speech has been “whitewashed” throughout time. This highlights the possibility that some of King’s actions and beliefs—particularly the more controversial ones—may have been minimized in favor of a less controversial notion, degrading the true extent of racial inequality during this time. As stated by Jackson, “that manufactured perspective — often told to young children and supported by mainstream, predominantly white commentators — was focused on erasing the divisions between black and white people, not necessarily by blaming white people for their participation in systems of anti-black racism, but by moving beyond racial difference altogether” (Jackson). King’s letter and speech both address the real, deep racism that African Americans experienced which is important to recognize both then and now. Aligning with Jackson, King’s work, speeches, and letters are not censored and are certainly not apologetic, they are strong, powerful, and “radical”. They are extreme and shine a powerful light on the true problems at hand within this country. Jackson powerfully ends the article by stating, “​this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we would do his memory justice by honoring all of his legacy. Not just the parts that make white Americans comfortable” (Jackson). By embracing all aspects of King’s radical activism and dedication to social justice, we can truly do his memory justice.

     Similarly, King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” highlights the extent of racial discrimination that America has endured, and the vigorous steps that must be taken to reform such a prejudiced America. King wrote this letter in Birmingham’s jail cell to fellow clergymen who had criticized and belittled his protest. In this letter, he presents a compelling case for the use of peaceful direct action and civil disobedience as vital instruments for opposing unfair legislation and promoting “radical” social change. According to King, “we know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (838). Change must be acquired through radical measures. King emphasizes that sitting idly by for change will never truly bring reform to anything. To seek real change, it must be demanded. It is crucial to demand change because it gives people the ability to take initiative and have an impact on society’s advancement. People who actively push for change hold others in positions of authority responsible, raise awareness of pressing problems, promote solutions, and make significant strides toward building a society that is more just and equal. King was always searching for where he could make a difference and take a stand. It is clear that no matter the level of progress he made in reformation, it was never going to be enough until every individual was equal. King emphasizes his will to fight in his letter stating, “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (836). King is expressing his firm belief that all people are connected and that it is only right to fight injustice wherever it occurs, no matter the obstacles. He understands that injustice is an ongoing threat worldwide and it is not merely something that occurs in certain places or communities. King’s efforts to promote equality stretch well beyond both of these two works and locations. Jackson draws attention to King’s antiwar activism during the Vietnam War and his leadership in the Poor People’s campaign. These details help us understand King as far more radical than the widely held perception that he is simply a peaceful dreamer. Jackson uses this argument to get readers to reevaluate their perceptions of King’s overall legacy and the reality of his dream in order to recognize the depth of his contributions to the civil rights movement. 

 

Discussion Questions …

1. Why do you think Martin Luther King Jr. is primarily remembered for his “I Have a Dream Speech”? Why are his other contributions toward his fight for equality not considered equally as important?
2. Going forward, how can we change the narrative of King to ensure that his true legacy is remembered and acknowledged, in full depth, in today’s society?

Citations: 

Jackson, Jenn M. “We Need to Honor MLK’s Real Legacy, Not the One That Makes White Americans Comfortable.” Teen Vogue, 31 May 2020, www.teenvogue.com/story/mlk-more-radical-than-we-remember?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tv. 

King, Martin Luther, Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail. Penguin Classics, 2018.

Today, February 21st, 2024 at 5 p.m. in Corey Union 301-303, Dr. Marcus Bell spoke about the research he did when studying the topic and also spoke about his personal background and what it was like for him growing up. During Dr. Marcus Bell’s presentation, he talked about two past events in his childhood that stood out to me because, one he was so young and another reason is because the loss of humans that young would be so traumatized. In the first situation, he talks about he tells us how his brother and he were walking back home after running to the corner store to get a snack and a man came up to them with a gun and told them to give him everything they had. While that was happening all he could think of was fearing for his life and wanting to call for his dad at that time. I feel that any child in this situation would be terrified for their lives and would want their parents and this event would stick with someone for a long time. Another event he encountered was one time Dr. Bell and his two brothers were waiting for the bus and his brother had a fake gun that had fallen out of his brothers’ bag they didn’t think anything of it because they knew the gun was fake, but the bus driver didn’t know that and she had called the cops and when the boys looked out the window they saw guns surrounding the bus with their guns out pointed at them. At a young age, the boys didn’t know that it was such a big deal to carry a gun on them whether it was fake or not that there could be major outcomes. Dr. Bell took a minute to think and said to himself that in just the span of 2 years, his parents could have lost their 4 sons due to these events occurring. The first event shows being under-protected because there was no cop around to help the two young boys who were being robbed at gunpoint, and the second event shows being over-policed because the police didn’t stop to ask questions they just automatically pulled out their weapons. Which shows they automatically were ready to shoot first and ask questions later. The number one leading cause of death for African American men ages 15 – 24 years of age is homicide because, In communities where the illegal drug trade is prevalent, violence related to turf wars, disputes over drug territory, and retaliation can drive homicide rates. The criminalization of drug offenses and the resulting enforcement efforts can also contribute to violence and conflict within communities. Conflicts between law enforcement and African American communities, including experiences of racial profiling, excessive use of force, and lack of trust in the justice system, can exacerbate feelings of marginalization and alienation. In some cases, strained police-community relations may undermine efforts to address and prevent violent crime. These are two of many reasons why young African American men die between 15 – 24 years of age. 

         I think that the film (although obviously correlating with the reading) gives us as the watchers a new interpretation of the characters and certain scenes within the play. It is easy to read a novel or play and draw out the characters, connections, and interactions within our mind, although our ideas may alter after seeing the play performed. We are able to interpret different crucial values of the play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, and the raw outline of the “American Dream” and what that looks like for this particular family within the play. The first altered feature I noticed was the setting. Personally, when I read plays, or novels, I try to paint an imagine in my head as I read, the setting within my mind while reading differed extremely from the setting within the play, I pictured the house, jobs, and living style very differently throughout reading the play, and seeing their living situation visually alters how urgent and necessary I think their move was. 

          Although the setting was altered for me after watching the play, there were also many crucial points within the movie that changed the traits of characters, or were illustrated differently within the reading of the play and watching it. I think that one scene that was viewed differently between reading and watching the play was when Benetha went on her tangent about how God should not deserve all the credit and Mama was shocked by what she was saying and slapped her across the face. Within the novel this scene is described as “ It’s just that I get tired of Him getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through its own stubborn effort. There simply is no blasted God– there is only man and it is he who makes miracles! (Mama absorbs this speech, studies her daughter and rises slowly and across to Benetha and slaps her powerfully across the face. After, there is only silence and the daughter drops her eyes from her mother’s face, and Mama is very tall before her) (51.) Within the play we can see how Beneatha was voicing her opinion within the walls of Mama’s house and within her words she offended Mama strongly and was punished for whom she was speaking to. Although it is described powerfully within the novel and you are moved as the reader and driven into the weakness Benetha felt, and the power/anger Mama felt about the topic of discussion, I interpreted it differently after watching it. For starters, Benetha talking about God and saying how she does not believe in his aspects, she was more trying to voice her opinion within a safe area and caught Mama at a time of high emotion due to the discussion her and Ruth were having prior about the house they currently live in and her late husband big Water. It is said within the stage directions that after Mama slaps Benetha she exits the room, although after watching the play, it is seen that Mama simply just walks away and continues with what she was doing and Benetha’s eyes filled with tears and she was the one to run off set. This made me interpret the scene differently, because when I was reading these few moments I thought that Benetha was in such a moment of anger and annoyance that she almost meant to hurt Mama with her words by reflecting off her own emotions, though, I believe that it is the other way around. I think that Mama was feeling distraught and conflicted with what to do with the money coming and there were high emotions with missing her husband. This caused Mama to act harshly as more and more began to add to her list of worries about life in general. To conclude my interpretation of this scene, I believe that with Mama not walking out of frame and leaving the discussion it showed her more powerful side, as we all know she is head of the household, but after seeing her almost carelessness from slapping Beneatha to just going back to what she was doing, shows that she knows how much power she truly holds. Her beliefs are to be respected and not altered or speaked down upon, and with Beneatha’s opinions overflowing the room Mama put her power to use and with Benetha fleeing the scene, I think it shows how off guard she was taken by the slap and how unsure she was about how to act. 

       There were multiple scenes that I viewed differently after watching the play as compared to reading it. I believe that audiences reading or watching the play will gather different emotions, characteristics of character, setting description, and stage direction/ emotion very differently. Although the changes may not be major while watching the play, they were harsh enough to alter my interpretation of certain aspects. Lorraine Hansberry’s writing of this play was not only powerful and moving, but also showed the inside emotion, confusion, injustice, dream(s), and underlying race issues within America at the time. There was so much room for growth and perseverance, but society as a whole held freedom back from those who did nothing but seek that freedom. 

 

Discussion Questions: 

• Which character’s traits were altered mostly for you after watching the film? Why do you think this character’s description, attitude, etc. changed after watching the film?
• Why do you believe we gather information differently when compared to reading and/or watching something?

The screen adaptation of A Rasin in the Sun stays faithful to the play script written by Lorrianne Hansberry. The movie of A Rasin in the sun impacts the way we view the playwright because we no longer have the mental image of these characters, but a real interpretation of them. This can change how we relate and digest the story because now these characters seem more “real”. There were a lot of moments very faithful to the script, but what stuck out the most in my opinion is how Walter was portrayed. Seeing an exclamation point after a sentence in a book can help you understand the person speaking is upset, or excited, but seeing it onscreen creates an entirely different experience. A Character that stood out the most to me was Walter. His portrayal is very powerful and fuels the most difficult dynamics between the family and himself. This is seen in the play, but you see the full magnitude of his actions and words in the classic film. 

In the first scene of the play, Walter is read to be very confrontational, he thinks very highly of himself and what he thinks a wife should be doing for him as head of the house. In the film, the actor portrays this very well, the difference between just reading and visualizing the stage directions and seeing it genuinely unfold is different. The stage directions during the argument between Ruth and Walter reads “WALTER (Rising and coming to her and standing over her) You tired, ain’t you? Tired of everything. Me, the boy, the way we live—this beat-up hole—everything. Ain’t you?” (35). These stage directions do show Walter towering over her, trying to show dominance but does not fully articulate the weight of the words being said by just reading. In the movie however, while the actor of Walter, Sydney Poitier, is following these stage directions, he is doing even more. He is sweating, visibly angry and unsatisfied with his life that his insults to ruth seem twice as harsh. There is an edge to his tone that hasn’t even reached its full potential as the rant from him is just starting. Ruth is played by Ruby Dee, who portrays her in a cold but submissive way, showing how the romance in this relationship is dead. She is visibly very annoyed with him, and he knows this, pushing further and further to get a reaction out of her. Walter is very articulated when he speaks, his eyes boring into ruth’s, as she tries not to make much eye contact with him as he blames and insults her. This is not the first time they have had conversations like this, even before they mention the fact that it is a constant argument you can see the exhausted look in Ruth’s eyes and how annoyed Walter is at her having little to no reaction to his words.  

In this scene it is also evident the way he interacts with Beneatha is impacted by Poitier’s method of portraying Walter. Beneatha, played by Diana Sands, is the most comedic character in the movie, as she is very focused on living her life as freely as she wants and wanting to serve a purpose, this leads to some classically funny moments in the film. In the same scene, Walter instantly has a problem with Beneatha being in the room, the second thing he says to her being “WALTER (Pushing the paper across the table to her as he studies her almost clinically, as though he has never seen her before) You a horrible-looking chick at this Hour.” (39). While reading the screenplay, I thought of this as how siblings talk, they insult each other not truly meaning it. The tone of Walter’s voice in the film sets the difference between the script and the movie though, the way he says it in the film is filled with disgust. His voice is low and having just argued with Ruth, he is angry. This is very different from the possible playful interpretation that is seen in the script, even though they are the exact same words. This is a common dynamic throughout the movie, they bicker but it is more like strangers arguing rather than siblings, harsh tones being used. A moment that stood out the most between the two in my opinion is when Walter is drunk later in the movie and dances with Beneatha. You see them be playful and enjoy the company of one another and it is a wholesome sibling moment. Walter and Beneatha have a strained sibling dynamic enhanced by the performances of Sands and Poitier.  

If not for Sydney Poitier’s powerful portrayal of Walter in this film, then these crucial relationships would have a different feeling to them, possibly changing the relationship of the film to the script. 

 

Questions: 

1. What character stuck out the most to you because of how they were portrayed? How does this affect your interpretation of the character in the script? 

1. According to Turner Classic Movies, this film was voted One of the Year’s Ten Best Films by the 1961 New York Times Film Critics, how do you think this film impacted the audience at the time? 

Citations: 

“A Raisin in the Sun.” Www.tcm.com, www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/87646/a-raisin-in-the-sun#notes. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024. 

A Rasin in the Sun. Directed by David Petrie, Colombia Pictures, 29 May 1961. 

Hansberry, Lorraine. Lorraine Hansberry’s a Rasin in the Sun. New York ; London, French, 1984. 

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry focuses much on family relationships during a time of struggle and uncertainty. The character Mama is portrayed as head of the family, although there seems to be a power struggle for this with her son, Walter. Hansberry writes, “You the head of this family. You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it” (94-95). This quote demonstrates Walter’s frustration in not being the head of the family and how he is unable to control the new sum of money they are getting to try and do what he believes is best for his family. He and Mama doesn’t agree on what is best for the family and that has created this tension that explodes when the decision about the check needs to be made. 

Mama’s character seems to have many qualities that make her a questionable head of the family. We see her, in act 1, trying to parent Travis in front of Ruth, she says “I ain’t meddling… Put a lot of nice butter on it… He likes lots of butter”(41). Ruth feels like Mama thinks she doesn’t know her child and can’t parent him. Throughout this scene we see Ruth continually telling Mama that she can handle her child. Then, later in act 2 we see Mrs. Johnson talking to Mama about her kids, she says to Mama “Oh– I ain’t criticizing her none. It’s just– you know how some of our young people gets when they get a little education”(102). Although Mama never says anything about this to Mrs. Johnson, we see how annoyed Mama gets when Mrs. Johnson is talking badly about her children based on the way Hansberry writes the character Mama and has her act. She is annoyed at one person for criticizing her children, which a parent will take very personally and think themselves to be criticized as well. But then she is doing the same thing to Ruth throughout the play. This hypocritical quality of Mama is not only seen here, though. We hear Mama criticize Ruth’s parenting once again, but it also shows another hypocritical aspect of Mama when she says, “Why don’t you never let the child explain hisself.” (90) I find this quite funny because the issue her children seem to have with the way Mama runs the household is that no one else gets a voice and they don’t feel like they are being heard. Mama is a very head strong character, and we see many times in which she doesn’t really listen to the other members of the family. Walter says, “You just don’t understand, Mama, you just don’t understand.” (74), indicating that his mother won’t take the time to listen and fully understand what he is saying and where he is coming from. But in the previous quote we see her defending Travis and trying to get Ruth to listen to his explanation and give him a chance to explain himself. 

In this second act, we see Mama decide what to do with the check that she has received. She decides to buy a new home for herself and her family, but the way she announces it gains mixed reaction. Mama says to Travis, “She went out and she bought you a house!” (91). Both Ruth and Travis are clearly excited about this new house that they are going to be moving into. Walter, on the other hand, seems very upset. Hansberry depicts him as, “Bitterly” (93), obviously meaning to display him as upset and angry at Mama’s choice. I found it interesting that Mama says she bought the house for Travis. I think this is initially what upset Walter. He has always felt that his mother doesn’t support his dreams and ambitions. When he sees how she is treating Travis and what she is doing for him, I think he sees all he feels he should have gotten. Walter says, “So you butchered up a dream of mine–you– who always talking ‘bout your children’s dreams…” (95). After finding out about Mama buying the house, Walter sees his dream of opening a liquor store vanish, as he wanted to use the money for that. He ridicules Mama, saying she says she supports her children’s dreams. But then she does this, which takes her child’s hope of his dream away from him.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. We see that the scene with Mrs. Johnson was taken out of some performances of the play. What importance do you think this scene brings to Hansberry’s message and what was lost when it was taken out?
2. We know that this was meant to be performed as a play but reading it we get the stage directions and the exact ways that Hansberry meant for the characters to act. How might the ideas and interactions between the characters be seen differently when just watching the play? 

 

Work Cited: 

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House, 1986.

In reading “A Raisin in the Sun” By Lorraine Hansberry, focuses more on Bonds and conflicts between men and women, parents and children, old ways and new ways. Walter sees his wife, mother and sister especially, as women who need to be seen and not heard.  For example, According to Hansberry  “ a man ought to learn in life is not to make love to no colored women first thing in the morning”(27) in this example, Walter states not making love to colored women, he feels as though they are angry and evil. In the first two Act’s we see Walter as very selfish and doesn’t see no other way but his way. Another example is “ Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you are crazy about messing around with sick people then go be a nurse like other women or just get married and be quiet.”(38) In addition,These quotes show just how looked down on women were when it came to wanting to be something more than a nurse. Women were expected to bear babies and be a stay at home wife or be a nurse like every other woman. Most black women during this time period were expected to work as domestic servants in homes of wealthy white people. I found that women weren’t allowed to apply for certain jobs or colleges in the 1950’s. For example “Women were underrepresented both as students and faculty members at institutes of higher education, comprising just 21 percent of college students in the mid-1950s. Some schools banned women from applying or put restrictive quotas on how many they would accept.” In this jarring example, this evidence talks about the treatment women were given. Colleges had an amount of women to accept into their colleges, women weren’t seen as smart or worthy,  The main issue in the 1950’s was segregation in housing and education.  As for Black women in the 1950’s and 1960’s  who worked as domestics were generally treated as uneducated, poor, and child-like creatures.

In Act II of A Raisin in The Sun, we see more of Beneatha’s personality. We see how she is more free spirited than the rest of the characters and wanting to follow her own path, Walter, MAMA, and Ruth feel as though Bennie is quite disrespectful when it comes to them. The scene where Bennie cuts all her hair off Ruth states “ you expect this boy to go out with you with your head all nappy like that?” which Beneatha Replies “That’s up to George. If he’s ashamed of his heritage”(80). In the African culture women were not seen to have lots of hair, they would cut their hair to show an act of self-liberation and assertion of freedom. Looking back on the Introduction By Robert Nemiroff, he talks about how In 1959, when the play was presented, the rich variety of Afro styles introduced in the mid- 1960s had not yet arrived: the very few black women who wore their hair unstraightened cut it very short. When the hair of Diana Sands (who created the role) was cropped in this fashion, however, a few days before the opening, it was not contoured to suit her: her particular facial structure required a fuller Afro, of the sort she in fact adopted in later years.” But now in the modern world when a woman cuts her hair it is seen as a sign of strength and beauty. 

Benethea is a very strong willed and opinionated person, some would call her a feminist. In a Raisin In The Sun Bennie stated her opinion on god and how she feels like god shouldn’t be taking the credit for human kind’s work. For example Benethea states “it’s just that I get tired of Him getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through its own stubborn effort.” MAMA who grew up praising god and believing in him felt as though Bennie was being disrespectful. In some cultures, in this case the African American culture, kids weren’t allowed to talk back to their parents or state their opinions. I think Bennie was just stating how she felt about God and basically saying he’s overrated and MAMA took that as her being disrespectful to her and the lord above, which caused Benethea to shut down. There is a power between a parent and a child, a parent is seen as the big bad wolf and having control while the child is seen as a puppy dog doing as it’s told without any explanation or back talk. For example in the parenthesis it states “ after there is only silence and the daughter drops her eyes from her mother’s face, and MAMA is very tall before her” (51). This quote justifies MAMA standing her ground and making it known that she is the parent and you should obey.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.How come there’s this stigma that kids shouldn’t be able to speak their minds to their parents? 

2.How does the concept of the ‘American Dream’ unfold in A Raisin in the Sun, and how do the characters’ aspirations reflect the societal challenges of the time?

Works Cited:

Hansberry, Lorraine. “A Raisin in the Sun.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Feb. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun. 

In “A Raisin in the Sun”, written by Lorraine Hansberry, we see how the relationship between characters change and develop through how each character handles adversity within the story. As we are introduced to the characters Beneatha, Lena (mama), and Travis, we learn what each of their dreams is to do with the life insurance money from Lena’s late husband. We learn that Travis is very driven around his dreams and wants a better life for him and his family. Travis’s ideas of creating a new life are bold and risky, which creates hesitancy for Lena. Lena says in Act 1 Scene 2, “No…something has changed. You something new, boy. In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the north if we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too…now here come you and Beneatha talking about things we ain’t never even thought about hardly, me and your daddy. You ain’t satisfied or proud of nothing we done…You my children-but how different we become” (74). Here, Walter’s dreams of opening a liquor store are causing rising tension between Lena and Walter. Lena already feels conflicted with having to listen to both Beneatha and Walter’s dreams with what to do with the check, but she is noticing that Walter is acting almost irrationally and ungrateful for what he already has, that she didn’t have. This also begins to explore the long-term issues of race and how far Lena had to come to be able to put a roof over her children’s heads in the early to mid 1900s.  Her perspective differs heavily from Walter’s due to the different ways they grew up, and Lena doesn’t want Walter to forget what is already in front of him. Walter and Beneatha are so focused on using the money so quickly and drastically, and Lena may just want them to take a step back and realize what a gift it is to have this money and to attempt to think of the family as a whole, rather than using the money for his own personal gain. We see Walter’s mind almost jumping the gun to big dreams, whereas Lena perceives Walter’s eagerness in a negative sense because he is forgetting so many things that they may want to focus on before opening the liquor store, like Travis having a bed, a better home to live in, keeping the family together and safe, etc. I am curious how Lena is going to handle her son’s passions and how it will affect their relationship as the play continues.

         Also in Act 1, we see that Ruth is left with a new challenge for not only herself, but the family as a whole. Ruth finds out that she is pregnant with her second son. Once Lena finds out, she immediately starts asking questions about the pregnancy, and can quickly tell that Ruth is not ecstatic over her announcement. Ruth knows that having another baby in the current situation they are in was not only not part of the plan but will most likely have consequences with her relationship with Walter. Walter as we know is passionate about his very big dreams, which are already quite the reach for the families economic standing. So as Walter is conflicting with Mama and Beneatha over what is the right thing to do for the family in terms of the insurance money, there is a whole other layer of conflict. Lena says, “It is my business- where is he going to live, on the roof?” (58). Mama quickly tells Ruth that she does think it’s wonderful, but Travis sleeps on the couch, so where would a new baby stay? They are already running around to try to make ends meet as time continues, so an addition to an already complicated household will be yet another challenge. Ruth, like many African American women during this time period, has to have a main focus of family. Hansberry writes, “When the world gets ugly enough- a woman will do anything for her family. The part that’s already living.” (75) She works a domestic job for a white family and must prioritize her kids as well as making ends meet; let alone think about herself for a while. finds herself in a tough situation. She knows that she is already putting a lot of financial strain on the family, but what affect her new baby may have in the future, especially with the possibility of risking an investment on the liquor store business.  Since Walter is so passionate and eager about the possibility of the liquor store investment, Ruth feels almost guilty that not only does she have to further let go of her dreams and aspirations for herself to take care of her family, but also feels guilty that because she is pregnant, she could be the reason that Walter is unable to live out his dreams and aspirations of the liquor store business. She knows that this investment idea was extremely risky to begin with, but now there is a new very large risk factor that they will have to think about.

Discussion Questions:

1. In “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry, there is a primary focus on the importance of dreams. How might this relate to the themes of “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes?
2. Throughout the play, we see characters challenged by traditional stereotypes, whether that be through gender, race, or class. What affects do these characters face because of these common stereotypes? (example: Beneatha wanting to be a doctor in 1950s America)

Works Cited:

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House, 1997.

            In “A Raisin In The Sun”, Hansberry uses the check as symbolism for each family member’s value on hope and how they all see each of their dreams coming true with the money given to them. After reading act one, I quickly noted the importance of the check Mama is receiving after losing her late husband. The family shows clear signs of financial struggles from the beginning of act one. Hansberry writes, “TRAVIS: (Eating) This is the morning we supposed to bring the fifty cents to school. RUTH: Well, I ain’t got no fifty cents this morning,” (28). These lines show how important the check is to them because the check could help them with their finances. The importance of the check is shown throughout the story when Hansberry repeats the same type of phrase between Walter and Travis when talking to Ruth. “WALTER: …(Stopping and thinking) Check coming today? RUTH: They said Saturday and this is just Friday and I hopes to God you ain’t going to get up here first thing this morning and start talking to me ’bout no money…,” (26). And then later on the son asks a similar question, “TRAVIS: Mama, this is Friday. (Gleefully) Check coming tomorrow, huh? RUTH: You get your mind off money and eat your breakfast,” (28). These two quotes show the family needing the money off of this check. After coming to this conclusion, I realized that the check is symbolizing their dreams for their own futures and how they imagine this check helping them each. With this being said, I want to focus on two main characters and their feelings towards the check, Walter and Beneatha. 

           In the story Walter has a very different viewpoint than his sister, Beneatha, has on the check and what it could mean for their family. Walter, from the very beginning, has this idea of the money being used as an investment through the liquor store. “WALTER: Yeah. You see, this little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five thousand and we figured the initial investment on the place be ’bout thirty thousand, see. That be ten thousand each. Course, there’s a couple of hundred you got to pay so’s you don’t spend your life just waiting for them clowns to let your license get approved,” (33). Walter talks about wanting to invest all of the money in the store and the good things that could come from investing it all over spending it all. I think this mindset of investing the check comes from a few different standpoints. It definitely plays into him wanting to invest so that the money grows and he can have a way to provide for his family and finally be the head of the household. I think that the check symbolizes for Walter how his life can improve. “WALTER: (Quietly) Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me—just plain as day. The future, Mama. Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me—a big, looming blank space—full of nothing. Just waiting for me. But it don’t have to be,” (73-74). Walter is growing tired of the same old job, he wants to branch out and explore the different possibilities that could be given to him like they are given to white people. His dreams of moving forward in life are shown clearly as his main reason for wanting the check. 

              Beneatha on the other hand, chooses to trust her mother to do whatever she wants with the check. Although she could ask her mother for some parts of it for her medical school so she can become a doctor, like Walter suggests she will do, she is assertive in wanting her mother to choose how she spends the money. “BENEATHA: (Turning on him with a sharpness all her own) That money belongs to Mama, Walter, and it’s for her to decide how she wants to use it. I don’t care if she wants to buy a house or a rocket ship or just nail it up somewhere and look at it. It’s hers. Not ours—hers,” (36-37). She is telling Walter that she wants their mother to choose for herself, which further proves her femininst side. Beneatha’s entire character is about being a feminist, and her wanting her mother to choose what to do with the money, something she never would have had the choice to do if her husband was alive, is Beneatha’s way of letting her mother take back some of her power and control. I think what the check symbolizes for Beneatha is about allowing her mother to pave her own path, something women were not allowed to do in this time. By letting her mother make her own decisions and become more of a feminist, her dream of being accepted by her own family is more likely to happen. “WALTER: (Defensively) I’m interested in you. Something wrong with that? Ain’t many girls who decide—WALTER and BENEATHA: (In unison) —“to be a doctor”,” (36). As of right now, no one accepts her wanting to become a doctor, so maybe if Beneatha’s mother taps into her womanhood, she will understand where Beneatha is coming from and support her more. The future Beneatha see’s for herself will be easier to achieve with somebody on her side, especially her mother. 

            One specific theme of “A Raisin In The Sun” that I think ties into the conflict of the check, and what should be done, is the endless struggles against human oppression for individual fulfillment, recognition and liberation. I think this theme connects well with the message the check achieves throughout the story because it is clear that the family is struggling mainly because of the oppression they are being faced with. They could only get jobs helping out white people, or chauffeuring them around, except for Beneatha who is struggling to achieve what everyone thinks is impossible. This theme is important to the symbolization of the check because without the oppression they faced, they would have been better off financially and individually. Walter wouldn’t have been so focused on investing, for individual fulfillment in looking for something more meaningful. Beneatha wouldn’t have been suffering and looking for recognition in what she was trying to do, and how hard she was working at attempting to achieve it. And Mama wouldn’t have wanted her own control over her own home, because without being oppressed they would have left the apartment they had been living in forever and she would have liberation in her own life. The impact of the check and oppression ties together through the characters actions and feelings. 

And with that being said, there are two questions left to discuss…

• How does the check affect the family in different ways? 
• How does money affect people & how can that be related to the story?

Work Cited:

Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Random House, 1997.

        After reading “Let America Be America Again”, it is observed that Langston Hughes vividly paints images of contrast between the perspective of America held by minority groups and white Americans. Langston Hughes was raised to believe that his coming to America would be filled with endless opportunity for prosperity. That is what everyone believed America would be upon entering. The word ‘America’ sparked a passion within anyone and everyone who had a desire for freedom and distance from the British monarchy, or any other form of government that gave the majority of its population the least amount of power. Hughes wrote in the second full stanza that America was a place “where never kings connive, nor tyrants scheme, that any man be crushed by one above.” Originally America was discovered and covered by people who desired to escape British rule, but slowly became a beacon of hope for all who felt oppressed by abusive authorities above them.

            As the poem progresses, an overwhelming sense of discomfort begins to surround the reader. Especially for readers living in America today knowing what this country is built on and what it has gone through. In between the first, second, third, and fourth stanzas, Hughes interrupts the proud sounds of the American dream (to the white Americans) with the harsh reality of what America really meant to anyone in minority to the white American population. As Hughes states, “there’s never been equality for me, nor freedom in this ‘homeland of the free’.” From the first footsteps onto American soil, African Americans and so many others have felt immediate displacement and abuse, tarnishing any minorities hopes and ideas of the so-called ‘American Dream’ for years to come. Even those Native Americans who inhabited the land before our founding fathers for many years were instantly pushed to the wayside for abuse and labor. “I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek— and finding only the same old stupid plan, of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.” In this poem, Langston Hughes is able to recognize the perspectives of not only African Americans, but those of all races, minority groups, etc. These comparisons take no time to diminish the hopeful image of America that was once intended to be advertised. There was never a free America to those who were not white.

            In reference to the desire of people to escape forms of hierarchy, the America that had been created was ironically the exact same. Many years later democracy was brought into the picture being a government that was ‘for the people, by the people’. However there was still a form of hierarchy plaguing the nation, only it was held over those mainly with a darker complexion. The European servile nature of the African Americans was brought right to America; “I am the Negro, servant to you all.” “I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars.” These are statements that should make readers ears ring with anger. America was a place for change, and even when there was a recognized need for change within the nation itself, it was not addressed for many many years. One of Hughes most powerful lines representative of this: “I am the young man, full of strength and hope, tangled in that ancient endless chain, of profit, power, gain, of grab the land! Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need! Of work the men! Of take the pay! Of owning everything for one’s own greed!” This entire sixth stanza encapsulates the ‘greed of the white man’, and how one man’s unsatisfiable greed for prosperity is another man’s death sentence.

            The third stanza is quite representative of what America was always intended to be. It reads off all of the false advertisements given to the name ‘America’; “O, let my land be a land where Liberty is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, but opportunity is real, and life is free, equality is in the air we breathe.” And to contradict this perspective of America, Hughes not only has lines in between these stanzas as interruption, but also includes an interesting line towards the middle of the poem, “I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart.” This, to me at least, was a perfect contrast to the strong, powerful image of the predominant white Americans. As men rose to power in the nation and began to take control, even the white population was segregated and put into feud through job classes, political parties, and hatred. America was never fully what is was intended to be.

So with that, I leave two questions to think about:

• Why do you think racism and oppression has continued in our society, even today, despite all of the evidence of its unforgivable nature?
• How does the repetition within the structure of the poem develop the overall disposition of “Let America Be America Again”?

Works Cited:

Hughes, Langston. “Let America Be America Again.” Poets.Org, Academy of American Poets, 3 Feb. 2021, poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-again.