1. English
OBJECTIVE: SWBAT understand how Lorraine Hansberry came to write A Raisin in the Sun at this particular time in history. ACTIVATOR: What can you infer about the following picture? HOMEWORK: In one paragraph or more, explain why Lorraine Hansberry was influenced to write at this time in history.

2. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Historical Context

3. Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
Americans fighting for equality across race and gender lines
Focus on nonviolence
Black Americans and their struggle for recognition and power

4. Desegregation of schools and other public places a major goal
Right to live and work where you choose
Getting rid of “separate but equal”
Established before the Civil War
Meant that Blacks and Whites could be segregated so long as there were equivalent facilities for both races

5. Little Rock Nine: School Desegregation

6. Separate but Equal?
Black students requested to attend an all-white school and were granted their request
Arkansas governor attempted to stop them by putting soldiers around the school, but President Eisenhower took charge of the soldiers, requiring them instead to protect the students
Students were spit at, yelled at, and tormented by adults
When the public saw these pictures, they began to realize that “separate but equal” was not equal at all

8. Nonviolence

9. Nonviolence
refusing to engage in violent acts, even if others are committing violent acts against you
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of this, and he even died for it

10. Nonviolent Protest

11. Nonviolent Protest Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus strike
For a year, many Blacks boycotted the Montgomery bus system, eventually forcing them to get rid of segregation on buses
Lunch counter sit-ins

13. Instructions for Protest
Do not respond to words spoken to you.
Do not look at anyone who says something to you.
Act with honor and dignity.
If anyone physically harms you, do not retaliate.
Do not talk among yourselves or with other people on the sidewalk.

14. Freedom Riders: Coming Together

15. Afrocentrism
The idea that all culture and humanity began in Africa and extended outwards to the rest of the continents
Sought to recapture and instill pride in Black culture
Still taught today in some schools around the country

16. Afrocentrism (cont.) Fought against “Eurocentric” ways of thinking
Many wanted to move to Africa to recapture their origins
Believed America had failed in granting equality and would never be a home

17. Liberia
Marcus Garvey, a prominent Black leader of the 1920’s and 1930’s, began encouraging Blacks to move here
Wanted to create an ideal home for Blacks who had been stolen from their homeland
Some felt that this was not a solution, that more action needed to be taken to help matters at home

18. Lorraine Hansberry

19. Lorraine Hansberry Raised in Chicago Academic parents
Youngest playwright, fifth woman, and only Black artist to receive NY Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play
First Black female to have a play produced on Broadway

20. A Raisin in the Sun
Inspired by her childhood growing up in a White neighborhood
Opened on Broadway in 1959
First play to portray Black characters on stage in a realistic way
No stereotypes
Typical American family
One of the few plays at that time that had strong female characters

21. Meet the Younger Family

22. The Younger Family Mama Younger – matriarch of the family, widow
Walter Younger – named after his father, wants to open a business
Ruth Younger – Walter’s wife, struggling to find a way to help Walter be happy
Beneatha Younger – Walter’s sister, educated, wants to be a doctor
Travis Younger – Walter and Ruth’s son

23. Setting Chicago, between the end of World War II and 1959
A small apartment on the South Side of Chicago

24. Exit Question:
Why would Hansberry be able to have her play produced at this time but not earlier?