Prejudice In A Raisin In The Sun By Lorraine Hansberry

In the 1950’s African Americans faced systematic racism and prejudice. After the civil war African Americans were able to gain their freedom from bondage because of the emancipation proclamation which set all African Americans free, however even though they were able to gain their freedom they still faced prejudice and racism through the black codes and the jim crow laws and the practice of sharecropping which held many African American Families back. During this time also many communities were segregated and practiced redlining which caused African Americans to be marginalized in communities lacking access to proper education and opportunities(Burke, 1). Lorraine Hansberry uses her play to demonstrate the effects that redlining and social

He is also bitter at other men his age being richer than him because “I pass them cool-quiet-looking restaurants where 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, 75) This quote can tell us how Walter is frustrated because he isn’t able to be as successful as white people who are the same age as him and how he feels hopeless not being able to be the same as them job wise and able to make the same amount of money. Walter is also very frustrated with how he feels because he isn't able to afford for his family and for his wife and he is angry he “want me some yachts someday! Yes, I want to hang some real pearls ’round my wife’s neck.Ain’t she supposed to wear no pearls? Somebody tell me—tell me, who decides which women is suppose to wear pearls in this world. I tell you I am a man—and I think my wife should wear some pearls in this world!” (Hansberry, 143) This quote illustrates to us how he feels angry and wants to be able to have a family because he currently is not able to provide for

This idea of moving forward and changing is very important to the African American Community because when faced down with betray mis-treatment they’re able to keep pushing forward and able to change for the better. At first Walter's spirit is broken because of the betrayal and the fact he lost all the money and after Ruth asks if he plans to sell the house, he says he isn't “just talking ’bout it, baby—I’m telling you that’s what’s going to happen! “ (Hansberry, 142) This quote can help express that he only believes that selling the house would be able to regain what he lost in giving away the money thus propagating redlining and showing his lost dignity and hopelessness. However he is soon able to overcome this bout of hopelessness because his mother tells “Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to. (Walter looks from her to the boy, who grins at him innocently) Go ahead, son— (She folds her hands and closes her eyes) Go ahead.” (Hansberry 147) This action of having Travis watch his father was able to make Walter realize what he was doing was wrong and was able to convenience him into changing who he was as a person and deciding not to