A Raisin in the Sun
The title comes from the poem 'Harlem' (also known as 'A Dream Deferred') by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences on the south side of Chicago, as they attempt to improve their financial circumstances with an insurance payout following the death of their father, and deals with matters of housing discrimination, racism, and assimilation.
- field
- Theatre
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- First play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway; first Broadway play with a black director
Lore & Background
A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as the first with a black director. The plot follows the Younger family living in poverty on Chicago's South Side. Walter Lee Younger wants to invest in a liquor store, but his mother Lena (Mama) has religious objections. Lena puts a down payment on a house in an all-white neighborhood and gives the remaining $6,500 to Walter, who loses it to a con man. A white representative, Karl Lindner, offers to buy them out to avoid racial tensions, but the family ultimately rejects the offer, choosing to move into their new home despite an uncertain future.
Reader's Guide
A Raisin in the Sun is significant as the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway and the first with a black director, Lloyd Richards. It introduced details of black life to overwhelmingly white Broadway audiences and was the first play to which large numbers of black people were drawn. In the 21st century, publications such as The Independent and Time Out have listed it among the best plays ever written.
Did You Know?
- The title comes from the poem 'Harlem' (also known as 'A Dream Deferred') by Langston Hughes.
- The play was the first written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway.
- The character Mrs. Johnson and a few scenes were cut from the Broadway performance due to time constraints and logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plot of A Raisin in the Sun?
The story follows the Younger family, a Black household on Chicago's South Side, as they argue over how to spend a life-insurance check left behind after their father's death. Their clashing personal dreams collide head-on with the realities of housing discrimination and racial prejudice.
What major themes does A Raisin in the Sun explore?
The play interrogates how systemic racism and housing discrimination constrain a family's ability to build a better life. It also weighs the tension between assimilating into mainstream American culture and preserving one's own cultural identity.
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