A Raisin in the Sun

Spoiler Alert: Everyone deserves the right to dream.

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Deeply poignant, A Raisin in the Sun, is a beautifully intimate and cinematic story. First a critically acclaimed play and then an award-winning movie, this story is not only universally adored, but revolutionary. Following the Younger's, a poor black family living in 1950s Chicago, the script documents each character as they struggle to find meaning and achieve their goals in a world meant to oppress them. Having just lost the patriarch of the family, the beloved Walter Sr., the Younger family must put together the pieces of their loss. Lena, the wife of Walter Sr., is a hard-worker and nurturer. Despite being well past retiring age, she labors tirelessly every day and makes sure everyone in the family is cared for. Walter Lee, Lena's son, seems to take after his father in that he can't seem to keep his feet on the ground. Jumping from one promising business venture to the next, he has grand aspirations of his family's future; He wishes to make it big and provide for everyone he loves. While his intentions are good, his restlessness eventually reaches a new level. This is much to the anxiety of his wife Ruth, who not only works all day and cares for their son Travis, but is also harboring a secret. Beneatha is the sister of Walter Lee and the only one pursuing a college education. As she navigates her way around the world, slowing coming to terms with her place in it, Beneatha must grapple with the many sides of her identity: What does it mean to be a truly independent and strong black woman in America? Does she even have the luxury or the time to find out? While the characters bicker and clash over their respective struggles and journeys, a tale of resounding love ultimately prevails. In spite of poverty and misfortune, of loss and injustice, the Youngers are a strong family -- resilient to their circumstances and deeply caring of one another. I personally quite enjoyed the format of this book. As it was originally a script, I enjoyed reading lines and stage directions as opposed to constant prose. In reading such a unique and powerful text, it truly felt I was watching the play in the theater or viewing it in the cinema. It is a truly powerful and resonant piece. The story eventually shows readers that everyone -- no matter their background -- deserves the right to try (and fail) as they may to pursue any destiny they wish. To dream and to aspire for more is something fundamentally human -- a truly universal experience. To deny people of these simple freedoms is to deny them of humanity. We must never lose sight of our humanity and like the Youngers, we must never stop chasing our dreams.

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Favorite Quotes: "There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing." ~~ “I want to fly! I want to touch the sun!...Finish your eggs first.” ~~ Alaiyo means...One for Whom Bread--Food--Is Not Enough.” ~~ “Mama--Mama--I want so many things... I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy...” ~~ "There is only Man, and it’s he who makes miracles!” ~~ Don't you see they have always been there... that they always will be. And that such a thing as my own death will be an advance? They who might kill me even... actually replenish me!” ~~ “Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams -but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while.”