A Raisin in the Sun - Essay Example

The whites of the Clybourne community depute Karl Lindner to bribe the Youngers “to understand their [whites’] problem” (Hansberry, 105), and move out of the community. Had she lived today, Lena would find no constraints in living among whites.  Whites and blacks live in harmony in the same neighborhoods in owned or rented houses. They visit the same shops and their children study in the same schools.

   Walter Younger, who works as a low-paid chauffeur, epitomizes the blacks’ intense desire for the American Dream {“Seems like God didn’t see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams” (Hansberry, 29)}, hoping to be financially well-off, educate his son Today, blacks have equal job opportunities as whites; some like TV personality Oprah Winfrey and Ben Carson {heart surgeon} occupy higher posts than whites.

   Beneatha Younger is the stereotype of a black woman discriminated against by whites as well as blacks as not being worthy of higher education and its related status in life. Today, black women are as free as white women to seek education up to any level. Black women like Condoleezza Rice {current U.S Secretary of State} have achieved their position largely due to high education.

   Ruth Younger is fiercely protective of her power over her own body – realizing she is pregnant, she contemplates abortion {Mama tells Walter “I think Ruth is thinking about getting rid of that child” (Hansberry, 62)} even though Lena is strongly against it.  Today, after the legalization of abortion in 1973, the attitude in America towards abortion is much more liberalized. Women are free to choose whether they want to give birth or not; in fact, many even shun marriage and become single mothers to look after their children independently.

   George Murchison believes that assimilating into white society is the way to gain riches and the admiration of others. When Beneatha advises more consideration about black causes, he arrogantly replies: “Forget it baby! There ain’t no causes” (Hansberry, 136). Today, blacks need not feel ashamed of their heritage as it no longer hinders their status or progress in life. For example, blacks like actor Will Smith {dynamic Hollywood actor} and Tiger Woods {Golf champion} have all reached the top of their careers without white support.

     Joseph Asagai takes fierce pride in his African heritage.  When Beneatha announces that she wants to become independent and liberated, he scornfully retorts: “Liberated women are not liberated at all” (Hansberry, 50).  Today, women are become totally liberated. The Feminism movement began during Hansberry’s lifetime {in the 1900s}, before with landmark achievements like the legalization of abortion in 1973, the 1974 Equal Credit Opportunities Act, the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and the 1994 Violence against Women Act, effectively removing all discrimination against women.

     Mrs. Johnson, the neighbor of the Younger family, represents the typical scared black person who recalls incidents where blacks were badly intimidated by whites (Hansberry, 104). Today, crimes of terror, hate, and violence based on color no longer take place.  Instead, a new threat {international terrorism} has reared its ugly head since the horrific events of 9/11, causing Americans of all colors to unite and cooperate with U.S law enforcement agencies in combating it.    

     Lorraine Hansberry did not live {she died in 1965 when at the young age of 34} to see the final freedom achieved by blacks. Twenty-five years have now passed since Dr. King’s historic speech. During that time America has certainly been transformed into the American Dream World that Dr. King dreamt about. If Hansberry were alive today, she’d be the first to admit that all the events of her 1959 play are now relics of the past. Nothing can exemplify this better than the fact that Barrack Obama, the current President-elect waiting to take the oath as the President of the one and only superpower in this world, is the first black American to have that honor.