Essay Database

A Raisin in the Sun - Context Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930, the youngest of four children. Her family lived, at the time, on the Southside, in a neighborhood that was entirely black. During this era, segregation--the enforced separation of whites and blacks was still legal, and widespread throughout the south. Northern states, including Hansberry's own Illinois, had no official policy of segregation, but were generally self-segregated along racial and economic lines. …

…the important things in life. In moving, Mama's dream has, at last, become a reality. Yet, her last moment in the apartment and her transporting of her plant show that although she is happy about moving, she does cherish the memories of her life and appreciate the hard work that went into this new opportunity. And implicit in the sense of her memories is her husband, who did not live to see his dream fulfilled.