Comparing I Have A Dream And A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

Racism & Dreams Although slavery was abolished in 1865, African Americans are still fighting for their rights hundreds of years later. Jim Crow Laws of the 60’s made it legal to treat African Americans differently than white people. In the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, an African American family faced the difficulty of poverty, and racism in the 1950’s. Similarly, the “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, describes the effects of racial injustice on African Americans. In both pieces of literature, the authors illustrate how racism can prevent African Americans from following their dreams.
To begin with, African Americans have to live in poverty due to racism. For example, King states, “The life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” Racism can affect African Americans in everything they do. They are not given the same chances as someone who is white to get a good

For instance, King states that African Americans are trapped on an, “Island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.” African Americans were isolated from the rest of the citizens. While other people had good jobs and a good home, African Americans suffered in poverty and the chains of segregation. Likewise, Walter explains, “them white boys are sitting back and talking ‘bout things...sitting there turning deals worth millions of dollars...sometimes I see guys don’t look much older than me-” ( Hansberry 74). Walter always dreamed of having a successful business and being able to provide for his family. However, he could not achieve that as easily, just because of his skin color. No matter how hard he worked, he was never given equal opportunities as someone who was white. Consequently, African Americans being seen as less than white people left them struggling to achieve their