A Raisin In The Sun Essay

In the play, A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, the Younger family strives to achieve financial success while facing the challenges of racism in the 1950s. Each character’s perspective of race affects their ability to succeed in their respective positions. One of the main characters, Beneatha Younger, represents a radical who opposes the social norms of her time. Ms. Younger studies at a college to become a doctor. Beneatha's progressive beliefs are evident in her rejection of Christianity, her fascination with African culture, and her vocal remarks on Black oppression. While Benethea contributes to the advancement of African Americans, she also creates tension in her family by enthusiastically denying values that are dear to them.

Her intellectual curiosity and exposure to various ideologies lead her to adopt atheism, challenging the religious foundation that her mother holds dear. In a conversation with her mother, Benethea proclaims

"Mama, you don’t understand. It’s all a matter of ideas, and God is just one idea I don’t accept. It’s not important. I am not going out and be immoral or commit crimes because I don’t believe in God. I don’t even think about it. 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!” (Hansberry

Ms. Younger maintains the belief that the progress of Black Americans has been through their efforts and without any aid from God. Benethea feels that God has not done anything for the marginalized group and that His figure has only stolen credit from African Americans. Conversely, Mama's faith in God guides her life. Her devoted pursuit of God provides her with solace, guidance, and strength. Beneatha's lack of acceptance of this faith shatters the foundation of Mama's belief system, leaving her feeling hurt and confused. Beneatha's denial indirectly questions the values and traditions passed down through generations, thus distancing her from the cultural and spiritual heritage that Mama cherishes. Beneatha's denial of God's existence not only isolates Mama but also divides her from the rest of her family. The Younger family, like many African-American families during the 1950s, relied on their faith and the community it provided as a source of resilience and unity in the face of racial discrimination and adversity. According to Master of Humanities William F. Spencer, “As a ‘free space’, the Church was an environment in which people were able to learn new self-respect, a deeper and more assertive group identity, public skills and values of cooperation and civic virtue. This was particularly vital in a thoroughly racist society