“A Raisin in the Sun” is a play by a black woman, Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959, and showed us oppression and the ramifications of oppression. At the same time, it also showed us, the audience, how one can defy those expectations, limits, and barriers. This play broke stereotypes in that time period, not only on the stage through the story and its characters, but as well in real life as the playwright broke barriers too. The breaking of stereotypes in the story is shown so far by one character named Beneatha. Beneatha is a 20 year old female who is going to school to be a doctor. Six years after the time period that the play is set around and debuted in, only 8% of women were medical students, and out of that percentage only 10% were represented in med school classes during 1965. Out of the 8%, only 6.7% graduated and went into positions in the medical field (Women physician pioneers of the 1960s: Their lives and profession over a half century & nbsp;: Archives Talk). It is very hard to find statistics on African American women in the medical field during the 1950s/60s. But, “In 1900, when 11.6% of the nation’s population was Black, 1.3% of physicians were Black. In 1940, when 9.7% of the total population was Black, 2.8% of physicians were Black — 2.7% were Black men and 0.1% were Black women. By 2018, when 12.8% of the total population was Black, 5.4% of U.S. physicians were Black — 2.6% Black men and 2.8% Black women.” (Rivero, Proportion of black physicians in the U.S. has changed little in 120 years, UCLA research finds, April 9th, 2021). When looking at this context and Hansberry’s character, Beneatha we, the audience, can see how her acts were so radical and a first for many in her time. There have been a lot of (but not enough) laws and acts since then to help create a society where everyone is treated not only more equally, but also fairly. Women still to this day make 83 cents for every dollar a man makes, even though our education costs the same (Sonam Sheth These 8 charts show the glaring gap between men’s and women’s salaries in the US).
“Forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all!” Beneatha says on page 37 when having a heated conversation with her older brother, Walter over money. To me this quote represents feeling bad for taking the same opportunity as someone else, even though you deserve the same right to take it. As I don’t believe she feels that way, Beneatha is pointing out that society along with her family, more specifically her brother, does not think she should have dreams like wanting to be a doctor. So, when or if you do take the opportunity, you feel as if you are imposing; doing something you shouldn’t be doing. As a female, I feel this quote represents how a lot of minority groups feel when they break societal stereotypes, barriers, and expectations. Society’s standards and norms hold an enormous amount of power, and if you benefit from them you might not even be aware of them, as opposed to those who are treated differently and are therefore well aware of the disparity. Bennie and Walter are compared to Mama’s plant which is a reflection and a metaphor of how society treats those who are “presumed” to be different. “Like this little old plant that ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing.” (Hansberry, A Raisin In The Sun, 52). These disparities go against the famous “American Dream,” which also happens to be one of the major themes in this play; that as long as you work hard you can accomplish anything, but in reality when you take an opportunity that was not made for you you are judged. “Seems 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 worthwhile.” (Hansberry, A Raisin In The Sun, 45). In reality, where we start does matter. We do not get the same chances, opportunities, and expectations; some people get a head start by having the benefit of the doubt through privilege. This view is represented by the character, Walter when in conversation about his son and life to wife, Ruth.“I’m thirty-five years old; I have been married eleven years and I got a boy who sleeps in the living room—(Very, very quietly)—and all I got to give him is stories about how rich white people live …” (Hansberry, A Raisin In The Sun, 33). What Beneatha’s character represents to many is not only hope, but a chance to change societal stereotypes and barriers. The play and her character were created during a time in our history when it was so radical to be a black woman to write and successfully get a play on Broadway.
In conclusion, I do believe that huge disparities remain and that people’s dreams and career paths are heavily affected by racism and gender norms and stereotypes, which influence families’ beliefs, values, and judgments. Some families’ cruel and strict religious and marriage beliefs are still unfortunately a prevalent issue in today’s society, like conversion therapy and arranged marriage. Whether we choose to see these disparities or not, does not make them go away. What I do believe is that the representation of the character Beneatha on the surface appears to be relatable, when in reality she is not due to her time period and that most of us can’t begin to imagine the courage, power, and grace she holds. Through the representation of her character and her aspirations, she is taking one step for herself and another step for a future and society that is built to support and benefit all genders, races, socioeconomic classes equally, and breaks the boxes stereotypes put us in.
- Citations:
- “Women Physician Pioneers of the 1960s: Their Lives and Profession over a Half Century : Archives Talk.” LibCal, 16 Mar. 2022,
- Sonam Sheth, Madison Hoff. “These 8 Charts Show the Glaring Gap between Men’s and Women’s Salaries in the US.” Business Insider, Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/gender-wage-pay-gap-charts-2017-3.
- Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Vintage Books, 1958
- Rivero, Enrique. “Proportion of Black Physicians in U.S. Has Changed Little in 120 Years, UCLA Research Finds.” UCLA, UCLA, 20 Apr. 2021, https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/proportion-black-physicians-little-change.
- Discussion questions:
-How do discrimination, oppression, and stereotypes affect one’s dreams and aspirations? View the question through the character Beneatha and the norms broken by her in the play.
-How do these quotes represent the points made in this play so far? Are these quotes metaphorical, and if so what do they represent? Do the quotes below seem to maybe foreshadow future events, and if so what?
“MAMA: ….If this little old plant doesn’t get more sun than it’s been getting it ain’t never going to see spring again. (39)”
“MAMA: Bennie and Walter. Like this little old plant that ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing—and look at it … (52)”
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Hi Grace, I 100% agree with your statement of how racism and sexism can really affect your dreams in the future. I was really focused on Bennie’s dreams of becoming a doctor and how she is in school for her dream. It is already hard for the women in society during this time with the people around them giving sexist stereotypes, but when the family is treating you the same, it can really affect your thoughts and desires. In Act 1 scene 1, Walter stated, “go be a nurse like other women–or just get married and be quiet.” Obviously during this time, women were only seen as marrying a man and becoming a housewife, or at least becoming a nurse, nothing really more for them. For a woman to have bigger dreams other than the basic stay at home wife, makes the men in society go crazy. During these times, they didn’t like the thought of women being higher than them, or even as equals. Sure this is still happening in modern society, but there has been huge improvement. I agree with your statement that social norms have a huge impact on us as a whole and I loved your writing overall!
Hi Grace, I think you did a wonderful job of bringing a historical context to this scene. When reading this today, it does not seem out of the ordinary that Benethea wants to become a doctor because there are many black women doctors today, but it was very interesting to see the statistics of just how unusual and progressive this was at the time. During this time, most women just got married and worked on their house or other peoples home, evident by Ruth and Mama’s jobs in the play. Ruth and Mama were shocked when Benethea said “listen, I’m going to be a doctor. I’m not worried about who I’m going to marry yet- if I ever get married.” (Pg. 50) This relates to your argument about how Beneatha is defying expectations for this time period. The stereotypes, discrimination, and oppression shown against Benethea by her own family members for her dreams and goals are not stopping her or slowing her down from her dreams, they seem to just be giving her more of a motivation to succeed.
Hi Grace, this was so interesting to read about and how you shared so much information on Act 1 of “A Raisin In The Sun”. When reading your blog, it was an eye opener to see your point of views on this and how much I can relate to what you are presenting in this. When you talk about talk about how Mama wants to become a doctor but some of her family members are against what she believes. When the writer was talking about this I was in shock to see the people that she loves go against what she truly wants to become. “Mama. you don’t understand. It’s all a matter of ideas, and God is just one idea I don’t accept. ” (page 51) When Beneatha is talking to Mama about this , it make it more appealing to me on what others can say and do which would have an impact on you. Your blog was so interesting to read and even made be have a more open mind on the characters.
Hi Grace, You did a wonderful job explaining the first scene and relating it to how a little percentage of black doctors there were back in the day and also to current time how much little has changed. Although I do agree with you that not much has changed over the years, an important question to ask is what Walter said “Have we figured out yet exactly just how much medical school is going to cost?” (pg. 36). I think that this is a good reason for why there is only a small percent of black doctors. If your ancestors were poor and made a living every week to just get by, then it would be hard for anyone no matter your race to become a doctor. This also goes to show that Beneatha’s dream of becoming a doctor is being crushed by her own family because they know that they are broke and can’t afford it.
Hi Grace! I found your take on the major themes present so far was very relatable. I love how you highlighted the statistics of Black women in the medical field at the time this was taking place and how rare it was for Benetha to be able to pursue this career. Adding on to this I really was interested in your take on the quote “forgive me for ever wanting to be anything at all” said by Beneatha to her brother. I slightly disagree with the fact that you think this is a representation of her feeling bad for taking an opportunity she deserves. I see it more as a defensive mechanism to her brother’s attitude and negativity. This quote and her attitude foreshadow the struggle and how her brother and money are going to be big factors in her not accomplishing her goals or being discouraged to continue them. However, I agree that people’s dreams are deferred by outside factors and the narrative needs to be changed. I believe that Mama will serve a crucial role in Beneatha success and advocate for her based off her defending Beneatha saying “Some of it got to be put away for Beneatha and her schoolin’-and ain’t nothing going to touch part of it.
Hi Grace, you had a great analysis of Act 1! To answer your first question, I believe that when people are facing discrimination, oppression, and looked at with certain stereotypes, one might not feel as if they can have or achieve dreams or they believe that they have to limit their dreams and aspirations. For example, Ruth is only 30 years-old and she already has lost any hope for dreams that she once had. Right now, she cooks and cleans for other families and the play says that “In a few years, before thirty-five even, she will be known among her people as a “settled woman.” (Hansberry, 24). In the eyes of people around her and in her community, by the young age of 35, she is no longer allowed to have new dreams and aspirations and she is just supposed to settle for a verbally abusive husband, no money, dingy housing, lack of further education, and a low level job. Not everyone has the courage to go against their values and what they were taught, to seek out a PHD and become a female doctor. Many people are scared of the consequences that could come from this and what people around them will think.
Hi Grace you did a great job on explaining and analyzing act 1. When I read your blog it put more into perspective how hard it was at that time to become a doctor while being black. Most women got married and just became house wives. I think when women try and become something great such as doctors it freaks men out. They grow up being taught that they have this superiority over women and they don’t want to lose that to women who become really apart and have goals towards what they deserve. I love how you talked about how social norms were broken by this play. That is a huge part of the Play.
Hi Grace, I think your blog entry is great and I agree with your statements you presented. When reading your blog, I agreed on how there is discrimination, oppression, and sexism towards African Americans. The percentages you presented help prove your point further when you talked about the amount of Black population to Black physician percentages in the United States. Beneatha is a character who goes against the time periods generic African American and has high dreams that most didn’t think off and I think that Lorraine Hansberry did a good job giving the readers an idea to chase their dreams. Beneatha is set on being a doctor and she even raises her voice about it on page 50 when she said, ” I am going to be a doctor and everybody around here better understand that!” Your blog was great and had a lot of great points that contribute to the books main themes.
Hi Grace, I think your blog entry is great and I agree with your statements you presented. When reading your blog, I agreed on how there is discrimination, oppression, and sexism towards African Americans. The percentages you presented help prove your point further when you talked about the amount of Black population to Black physician percentages in the United States. Beneatha is a character who goes against these statistics of this time periods generic African American dream and has high dreams that most didn’t think off and I think that Lorraine Hansberry did a good job giving the readers an idea to chase their dreams. Beneatha is set on being a doctor and she is willing to not get married to a great guy like George who’s “got a beautiful car and he takes me to nice places; and he is probably the richest boy I will ever get to know”(49). She said George found it pretty funny when she said she wants to become a doctor and that really made her upset. Your blog was great and had a lot of great points that contribute to the books main themes.
Hi Grace, I believe your analysis of act 1 was very interesting and relatable. I like how you went into detail about the stereotypes that are shown in the book and in real life. Also bringing up the percentages of women and minorities graduating medical school and actually becoming doctors helped me realize Beneatha’s dreams and aspirations were very hard to reach at this time. As much as it helped me realize it played a part in Beneatha’s struggles to get into medical school a part of me believes it also comes from her family’s struggles with money and it comes with the quote from Walter, (pg 36) “Have we figured out yet exactly just how much medical school is going to cost?”. He seems worried about the cost and getting her to medical school but also I believe he wants something different from her when he says, (Act 1, Scene 1) “go be a nurse like other women–or just get married and be quiet.”. So I believe he wants something else for her and is trying to steer her away from medical school for many reasons.
Hi Grace, I think you did a great analysis of Act 1 of “A Raisin in the Sun”. I think your statistical research provides great context and background to the struggle of women in the medical field, especially that of a black woman. Discrimination and oppression absolutely have effects on one’s dreams and aspirations. To be put down your entire life and told you will never succeed can completely shatter one’s self confidence. However I also feel it may be a motivating factor as well and can cause greater bonds to be formed such as between Mama and Beneatha. Mama has lived a long life herself including many hardships and oppression however she is still one of the largest supporters for Beneatha’s education. “Some of it got to be put away for Beneatha and her schoolin’ – and ain’t nothing going to touch that part of it.”(45) Mama and Beneatha have both faced oppression due to their gender and color; I feel that Mama truly wants her daughter to succeed and break through the societal conformity that Mama has faced. Mama wants Beneatha to succeed and is going to help provide the resources that will make that possible.
Hi Grace! I think you did a great blog entry especially in the analyzing discrimination and race relative to opportunity and the workplace. Although it was set anywhere between the ending of World War II and now, I think Beneatha was made to be a role model in any point in between where her thoughts and ideas are seen as unique and aspirational. Similar to Beneatha’s character, many, especially those of color, wanted to work towards their dreams and your statistics only show that they were denied for things they could not control so Beneatha introduced the idea of there being a chance. Not only this but, to do as Beneatha sought for, there were many challenges and one could even be her brother Walter who thought many women acted “Like they can do something (Act I, Scene I). ¨ In this case, not only was she brought down by the challenge brought upon by her gender and color but her brother made it worse although he was surrounded by others like his sister. It becomes difficult to advance in a society with such discrimination and even today that statement is true. Equal pay still does not exist and is determined by both race and color although one has no control and with that people like Beneatha are paid significantly less than their counterparts. It is interesting to dive into the challenges brought by discrimination and interesting to analyze the changes today.
Hey Grace, so I see where you are coming from with the Beneatha trying to break societal norms but I wonder if she is a heroine or rather more of a rebel. To me, she seems to be trying to break societal standards and push back even against those who want her to be successful. For instance, when Ruth talks to her about dating “the richest boy I will ever get to know”(Hansberry, 49). Immediately after there talk about how Ruth thinks that Beneatha should pursue this man Beneatha go on a rant turning the argument into a statement about how happiness isn’t going to be derived from the money in her spouse’s pocket. Pushing back against the societal norms that people should marry for money because it saves them from the poverty they are drowning in. Beneatha is a path setter a rebel against all societal norms that refuses to take the easy way out of her situation because she wants to be the one to make something of herself. I wonder if rather than being courageous and graceful if rather she is being bold and confident that she doesn’t need other people to be a success.
Hi Grace, amazing job including the information on the medical history of black Americans during the 40s-60s. It’s extremely relevant information to your argument and it helps show just how much Beneatha was working outside of the norm during this time. I appreciate mama for believing in her. Discrimination, oppression, and negative stereotypes one’s dreams and aspirations in the sense that now there are more immense obstacles put onto this path. In a world where nobody believes in you to become something more, you will have to fight your way past people who think you should devalue yourself. Walter tells Bennie, “…then go be a nurse like other women– or just get married and be quiet…” (38) Clearly, even Bennie’s brother doesn’t view her as someone capable of doing something like becoming a doctor, he just thinks he should play the “woman’s role” and stop trying so hard to be radical, but she knows everyone views her as this, instead of letting it hold her back she embraces it. She wants to be more than what is seen of her
Hey Grace! I agree with you when you state that huge disparities remain and that people’s dreams and career paths are heavily affected by racism and gender norms and stereotypes, which influence families’ beliefs, values, and judgments. Walter’s perspective, as well as Ruth and Mama, but mostly Walter’s, seem to say that Beneatha is just wasting her time. There was a line where Walter states ‘… then go be a nurse like other women- or just get married and be quiet’, which seems to be what most women did back then, and what Walter’s perspective on women seems to be. Then Beneatha stated, ‘Well- you finally got it said… It took you three years but you finally got it said…’, which means that Walter had been wanting to say that since Beaneatha decided to become a doctor, maybe he didn’t voice his thoughts, but his actions may have spoken for him. During that time, it seemed like women becoming a nurse or just getting married and “settling down” seemed to be the gender norm, and what Beneatha was fighting against.
Hi Lauren, I enjoyed reading your blog post, I loved how you included different statistics about African Americans. To answer your first discussion question, I feel that discrimination, oppression, and stereotypes affect people’s dreams and aspirations, especially in A Raisin In The Sun, these things all have a significant role in shaping the characters’ dreams and aspirations, particularly those of Beneatha.
As a young Black woman in the 1950s, Beneatha struggles against the societal norms and stereotypes that define her as a second-class citizen, as her rights are inferior to others. She dreams of becoming a doctor, which is an ambitious and uncommon goal for a woman of her race and social class at that time. However, Beneatha’s dream is constantly undermined by the discrimination and oppression she faces. For example, Walter ridicules her dream of becoming a doctor, claiming that she is wasting her time and money on a pointless pursuit. “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing’ round with sick people — then go be a nurse like other women — or just get married and be quiet…” (Act 1, pg. 38). This quote proves that during this time men, including her brother Walter, believe women shouldn’t have jobs with such power, they should get married and care for the house or work jobs that “women work” such as a nurse or housekeeper.
The discrimination, oppression, and stereotypes that Beneatha faces affect her dreams and aspirations significantly. Despite these challenges, she remains determined to achieve her goals and break free from the societal expectations imposed upon her. Her resilience and determination make her a compelling character who challenges the reader’s understanding of race, gender, and social norms.
Citation
Hansberry, Lorraine, and Robert Nemiroff. A Raisin in the Sun. 1st Vintage Books ed. New York, Vintage Books, 1994.
Hi Grace, I enjoyed reading your blog post, I loved how you included different statistics about African Americans. To answer your first discussion question, I feel that discrimination, oppression, and stereotypes affect people’s dreams and aspirations, especially in A Raisin In The Sun, these things all have a significant role in shaping the characters’ dreams and aspirations, particularly those of Beneatha.
As a young Black woman in the 1950s, Beneatha struggles against the societal norms and stereotypes that define her as a second-class citizen, as her rights are inferior to others. She dreams of becoming a doctor, which is an ambitious and uncommon goal for a woman of her race and social class at that time. However, Beneatha’s dream is constantly undermined by the discrimination and oppression she faces. For example, Walter ridicules her dream of becoming a doctor, claiming that she is wasting her time and money on a pointless pursuit. “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing’ round with sick people — then go be a nurse like other women — or just get married and be quiet…” (Act 1, pg. 38). This quote proves that during this time men, including her brother Walter, believe women shouldn’t have jobs with such power, they should get married and care for the house or work jobs that “women work” such as a nurse or housekeeper.
The discrimination, oppression, and stereotypes that Beneatha faces affect her dreams and aspirations significantly. Despite these challenges, she remains determined to achieve her goals and break free from the societal expectations imposed upon her. Her resilience and determination make her a compelling character who challenges the reader’s understanding of race, gender, and social norms.
Citation
Hansberry, Lorraine, and Robert Nemiroff. A Raisin in the Sun. 1st Vintage Books ed. New York, Vintage Books, 1994.