A FEMINIST STUDY OF LORRAINE HANSBERRY'S A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Abstract

"A Raisin in the Sun" is a response to the deferred dream of the African American in a land which their grandparents arrived by 'special invitation'. The dream of equality has been deferred by the many issues of racism and prejudice vis-a-vis segregation, discrimination and national oppression. The American dream has eluded many Americans and some have died in the course of fulfilling this dream. This paper examines the contribution of Lorraine Hansberry's dramatic enactment to the American dream of racial equality. The paper employs Feminism as a theoretical framework to trace the issues raised in the play and Hansberry's responses to them. She calls for pride in the black skin and hair. She advises blacks to move to the white neighbourhood to solve the issue of segregation. She also advocates abortion as the solution to poverty in poverty-stricken homes. In totality, she alludes that the black struggle towards achieving the black dream must be fought as a family.