Understanding the History of A Raisin in the Sun
Dreams Deferred
Understanding the History Behind A Raisin in the Sun
Directions: The play, A Raisin
in the Sun is set after World War II on Chicago’s South Side. It revolves around an African-American family and their dreams of a better life. You will enjoy and understand the play at a higher level if you understand what America was like during the time period in which Lorraine Hansberry set her play. To help you understand the social and racial culture of 1950-60s America, use the web sites below to answer the questions.
Watch the video below and view the additional sites. What conclusions can you draw about racial equality
in the 1950-60s? What types of restrictions were placed on African-Americans? Write at least 5 key points to describe the racial issues of the time.
I have a Dream Speech and clips of discrimination in 1960s America
Text and pictures on restrictions due to race
What type of housing was available for working class African-Americans in 1940-50s Chicago? Use the sites below to determine your answer.
What conclusions might you draw about the economic condition of the people in the following pictures? Do they live in a country or city location?
What method of transportation did most working class families on the South Side of Chicago use in the 1950s?
A now famous fast food restaurant first started in this time period near Chicago. What was the restaurant’s name? Compare and contrast its appearance to today’s restaurant.
What do you notice about food prices in the ad from a Chicago newspaper from the 1950s? What would prices for 3 of the items be in today’s grocery store?
For many families in the 1950s what new
form of entertainment became very popular? How was it different from our styles today?
Look over the sites below and write 3 facts
that you learned about South Side neighborhoods of the 1950s.
In 1950s America, what might have been an obstacle
to an African-American family moving to the suburbs? Give specific examples or quotes from the sites below. What are “restrictive covenants?” Notice that the playwright, Lorraine Hansberry, had some first-
hand experience with this obstacle.
Blacks moving in to all-white neighborhoods.
(Includes direct quotes from newspaper of the day)
Restrictive Covenants and Lorraine Hansberry’s family
Read the Congressional bill below that was written in 2005. Are restrictive covenants still being used in America today? How do you know?
House Bill in Congress 2005
109th CONGRESS 1st Session
H. RES. 259 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2005
Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. NEY, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, Mr. CLAY, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. BAKER, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. GUTIERREZ, and Mr. CAPUANO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Condemning the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents and urging States to adopt legislation similar to that which was enacted in California to address the issue.
Whereas racially restrictive covenants are a vestige of the Jim Crow era and were widely utilized in the United States during the early part of the 20th century to discriminate against African Americans, Jews, and other minorities and ethnic groups;
Whereas the purpose of racially restrictive covenants was to prohibit the sale or lease of real property to designated racial or ethnic minorities;
Whereas the United States Supreme Court in a series of decisions, including Shelley v. Kraemer and Hurd
v. Hodge, held that racially restrictive covenants enforced by a State constituted illegal discrimination and were contrary to public policy;
Whereas the Congress passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to prohibit private parties from setting discriminatory terms and conditions on the sale or use of property;
Whereas although now unenforceable, throughout the country tens of thousands of racially restrictive covenants remain in housing documents including plats, deeds, and homeowner association bylaws;
Whereas there is no legitimate purpose for the continued presence of racially restrictive covenants in
housing documents and their existence is contrary to the spirit of the Fair Housing Act of 1968;
Whereas housing documents containing racially restrictive covenants are psychologically damaging to
all Americans and they are sending the message that racism and discrimination are tolerable;
Whereas the State of California has enacted legislation that allows individual property owners to submit for recordation a modified document with the covenant stricken and requires homeowner associations to remove racially restrictive covenants ; and
Whereas the Missouri State Senate recently passed legislation requiring homeowner associations to remove racially restrictive covenants : Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1)
declares that the existence of racially restrictive covenants in housing documents is inherently inconsistent with the principles and values embodied in Supreme
Court precedent and the Fair Housing Act of 1968;
(2)
finds that the pervasiveness of
racially restrictive covenants in housing documents is unacceptable and causes harm to not only property owners but to all members of American society;
(3)
commends the State of California for taking a lead role in the removal of racially restrictive covenants from housing documents;
(4)
commends the Missouri State Senate for passing legislation to remove racially restrictive covenants from housing documents;
(5)
urges States to enact laws that will more readily permit property owners to remove racially restrictive covenants from their property titles, deeds, or other documents;
(6)
urges States to enact laws that require homeowner associations to strike racially restrictive covenants from all declarations or other governing documents; and
(7)
directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to cause to be delivered a copy of this Resolution to each of the Governors, Attorney General, and Secretaries of State of each of the States and the District of Columbia.
http://thomas.loc.gov/
Search: restrictive covenants. Click H.RES.259.IH
If an Iranian-American Muslim family is denied housing today based on their race or religion, what does this site suggest they do?
Individual Claims of Discrimination in Housing
In the play, A Raisin in the Sun, one of the main characters, Walter, dreams of owning something. Open the next image and describe one of Walter’s dreams.
Walter also dreams of owning his own business. What type of store does he hope to open?
Mama is another main character in A Raisin in the Sun. Her dream is different than her son’s. Look over the sites below and predict what you think Mama’s dream is.
Listen to the interview with the playwright of A Raisin in the Sun. How does she describe her play? List 3 interesting pieces of information you learned about Hansberry.