Timeless Themes A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

One of the most notable plays on the topic of racial minorities and family issues, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, has continued to be popular since it was written in 1959. The play is about an African American family, consisting of five members, who live in Southside Chicago during the post-World-War-Two era. The Younger family is crowded in a tiny, worn, and shabby apartment and they are fairly poor. They never have much surplus money until Walter’s father, and Mama’s husband, died and the family received a life-insurance check for ten thousand dollars. The play follows the family’s journey through the fights and distress that come from suddenly obtaining a large amount of money and the differing opinions on how the money†¦show more content†¦Meanwhile, many white people started moving away from cities and into the suburb areas because of revolutionized housing developments that made standard, suburban homes affordable and the advancement of transportation that allowed people to live farther away from the cities while still enjoying its amenities (Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey). There were increases in the presence of minorities as they too moved into the congested cities and tensions rose as African Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, etc. competed for the same jobs and housing arrangements (Pacyga). Amiri Baraka observes in her critique, of A Raisin in the Sun, that, â€Å"[f]or many of us it wasand remainsthe quintessential civil rights drama.† Hansberry plays off these tensions in A Raisin in the Sun by having Mama purchase a home in Clyborne Park, a nearby neighborhood which, as Walter expresses, â€Å"Mama, there ain’t no colored folk in Clyborne Park† (Hansberry 1465). After the people in the neighborhood learn that an African American family is going to move into one of the local houses, they send a representative of the Clyborne Park Improvement Assoc iation, Karl Lindner, to attempt to buy the house back from the Youngers. Walter and Ruth are appalled by Lindner’s audacity and promptly tell him no and send him away. Hansberry includes the word â€Å"improvement† in association’s name to emphasize how strongly the neighborhood felt against whom they viewed as inferiorShow MoreRelatedA Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry2035 Words   |  8 PagesLorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is a remarkable play written in 1959 by an African American author about an African American family. This time period was in the early days of the modern awakening of civil rights awareness. It was a timely play challenging the then current stereotypical view of a black family by depicting a realistic portrayal of a specific black family with aspirations, hopes, dreams, dignity, and ambition as would be expected from all families regardless of race. TheRead MoreA Raisin in the Sun Essay1752 Words   |  8 PagesA Raisin in the Sun Creativity of Hansberry played a crucial role in the development of African-American drama since the Second World War. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play by African-American author which was set on Broadway and was honored by the circle of New York theater critics. Drama of A Raisin in the Sun (1959) brought Hansberry to the Award Society of New York Critics as the best play of the year. A Raisin in the Sun shows the life of an ordinary African-American family which dreamsRead MoreEssay on Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun951 Words   |  4 PagesA Raisin in the Sun A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, illustrates the timeless struggle for the furtherance of family values and morals with extreme clarity. The play follows the life of a small black family’s struggle to keep their dreams from tenants to owners alive. These dreams, and the struggles necessary to reach them, as well as coming to terms with the dreams that are out of reach, are the focus and driving force behind this story of every persons struggle to achieve goalsRead MoreAmerican Dream in a Raisin in the Sun4319 Words   |  18 Pagesâ€Å"Harlem† captures the tension between the need for black expression and the impossibility of that expression because of American society’s oppression of its black population. In the poem, Hughes asks whether a â€Å"dream deferred† withers up â€Å"like a raisin in the sun.† His lines confront the racist, dehumanizing attitude prevalent in American society before the civil rights movement of the 1960s that black desires and ambitions were, at best, unimportant and should be ignored, and at worst, should be forcibly

Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legal - 1132 Words

For years individuals in same-sex relationships have been the thing of ridicule and discrimination. However, this started to change in December 2000, when the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage (Gay Marriage Around the World, 2015). Not just accepting same-sex couples, but actually allowing them to marry. It would be almost 15 years later and behind 16 other countries that the United States legalized same-sex marriage. On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry anywhere in the United States. This would change many laws throughout the United States and the laws governing the military were not exempt. For an institution that just recently allowed individuals to†¦show more content†¦This Directive held firm for just a little over 12 years. President Clinton couldn’t win over is opponents for letting homosexuals serve openly in the military. There was basically a compromise formed known as the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy. In this policy, adopted in 1993, homosexuality was defined an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability. (United States Naval Institute, n.d.). The policy let homosexual members remain in the military as long as they didn’t openly admit it and it also restricted individuals from asking if a military member was homosexual. These policies that either banned or restricted homosexual behavior in the military took another 17 years to be done away with. During those 17 years, more than 13,000 military members were discharged from the military (United States Naval Institute, n.d.). Depending on the type of discharge they received, many were left without benefits. Barrack Obama let it be known during his campaign for President that he would repeal the â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† policy. President Obama kept

Elba Essay Example For Students

Elba Essay Frans mother is dying of cancer but she has lived a more full and satisfying life that her daughter although it had been a sad one. Frans mother had, of course, been married and at one time been devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She had endured a difficult marriage since her husband was rigid, inflexible and unforgiving.(p. 6) She probably put up with such a nasty man for the sake of her daughter Fran. She did experience the joy of motherhood and the trials and tribulations of parenthood while simultaneously living with a stern and probably mean spouse. In the story, we also get a sense that Lillian had many friends since she enjoyed, and was so expert at, letter writing although this skill had waned as she grew older and cancer had weakened her. Frans mother also had a strong sense of motherhood. She was willing to give up her whole world (husband, home, friends) for the sake of her unwed pregnant daughter. As the author states in a reference to the story of the duke and duchess of windson when someone gives up the world for you, you become their world.(p. 15) In this sense Lillian gave up everything for Fran and so Fran become the whole world to Lillian. The reader wonders what mother would be willing to give up her whole way of life to protect her unwed pregnant child? One can also see the many small sacrifices Lillian has make for her daughter. For instance, the author states that when they first move to Florida, the mother would help her daughter learn to drive in the evenings when she (the mother) would rather enjoy a hot shower and a soft bed(p. 7) after a hard day of going from motel to motel until they could eventually find a permanent residence. Lillian also seems to handle life difficulties and trials so much better than Fran. Her body is wrecked by cancer and chemotherapy yet she still maintains her dignity and positive outlook. The reader gets the sense that she would do anything for her daughters well being until the day she dies. There is a tender moment when Lillian asks Fran to close her eyes and imagine what life would be like when she (the mother) dies. The daughter replies peaceful but inwardly realizes she would be lonely with her mother gone from her life. On the other hand, Fran, the daughter, seems to have lived a shallow, empty and unfulfilled life. Being an unwed mother at 16 and having to give up her baby daughter for immediate adoption seems to have shaped her life in a most tragic way. She never finished high school, and had to leave her home, father and friends at a very tender time in her life. The premature pregnancy came all too soon. All this happened at a time when an unwed teenager carrying a baby was a social disgrace. Her father, whom she dearly loved, literally turned his back on her as well as her mother. She never got the chance to grow and mature as a young woman nor to finish her education while simultaneously losing her father and breaking up her parents marriage. Probably because of her fathers rejection and abandonment of her, she became sour and bitter towards men and thus never married. Because of this, she never got a chance to experience true motherhood nor to have a family of her own. Her early unwanted tee nage pregnancy seemed to affect the rest of her adult life in a negative way. Frank fills up her empty life by oil painting which, at first, starts as a hobby but develops later into a income producing career. Her painting seems to allow her to live her empty life in the present moment and not to regret past tragedies nor to fear future unfulfilled dreams or aspirations. The author also mentions that Fran does not like to write letters and she has few friends. This seems to show that she ahs withdrawn into her own shell of single life with only her paintings and care of her dying mother to fill the void of her shallow life. The reader also gets the feeling that Fran bitterly regrets missing her chance to be a mother. Her pregnancy happened way too soon in her life. .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 , .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .postImageUrl , .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 , .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:hover , .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:visited , .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:active { border:0!important; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:active , .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551 .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf9a3ed2a909ae355b1bc1abeb8ab6551:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Shane is a classic example of western fiction in w EssayFran realizes when her mother dies she will then be truly alone no husband, no child, no father and no mother. When she closed her eyes and imagined her mother gone, this shiver of loneliness rippled along her spine.(p. 14) When her biological daughter contacted her after 25 years with a picture of her and her child, Fran came to realize some tragic truths about her life. First, she became a 40 year old grandmother, yet she could not share her life with neither her daughter or grandchild. Second, the daughter, she had given up for adoption, has her own family yet she (Fran) who had given her daughter life had no life of her own. Third, her desire to have a child at the right time of her life would never be fulfilled. The contact of her biological daughter with the enclosed photo brought all these sad naked truths to light. Frans teenage pregnancy had indeed make her life dead as her mother had exclaimed. Although her mother was dying and her own life took a tragic turn with Frans pregnancy, her life was still more fulfilled than Frans, or, as she said to her daughter, even half-dead Im more alive than you are.(p.16)Bibliography:

Merger Between American Airlines and US Airways free essay sample

Mergers and acquisitions (MA) are aspects of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies. These similar entities can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or new location, without creating a subsidiary, other child entity or using a joint venture. The difference between a merger and an acquisition has become increasingly blurred in various respects in terms of the ultimate economic outcome. From a legal point of view, a merger is a legal consolidation of two companies into one entity, whereas an acquisition occurs when one company takes over another and completely establishes itself as the new owner. In this instance the target company still exists as an independent legal entity controlled by the acquirer. A deal that is an acquisition for legal purposes is considered a merger of equals if both CEOs agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. We will write a custom essay sample on Merger Between American Airlines and US Airways or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When the deal is unfriendly that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased it is almost always regarded as an acquisition. In early 2013, American Airlines announced that it would merge with US Airways to form the largest Airline in the United States. The nations airline industry has undergone so many mergers in the last decade that only four airlines and their regional carriers control more than 80% of all domestic air traffic (Martin, 2014). Despite warnings from consumer advocates, the merger mania is having a positive effect on the industry and is partly responsible for keeping fares low, according to a new study by Price Waterhouse Cooper (Martin, 2014). This merger was driven by trade unions and the senior management of US Airways, CEO Doug Parker (Lawton, 2013). American Airliness main unions backed the merger because it promised less job losses than the alternative if they stayed solo. In the United States, trade unions have a stranglehold over much of the industry, stifling innovation and change. The added value that US Airways brings to American is the ability to rationalize the route network, combine purchasing, maintenance, and repairs, and dominate certain routes (Lawton, 2013). This strategy could be seen as defensive rather than a proactive one and to many people is considered a plan to improve operational efficiencies. American Airlines Senior Vice President Gary Kennedy commented that the merger would ensure the new company (to be called American Airlines) is better positioned to deliver for customers and its people (Lawton, 2013) . US Airways Executive Vice President Stephen Johnson noted that the deal would provide the airlines customers with a broader network, more choices, and better service (Lawton, 2013). Critics of the deal argue that it will result in reduced competition, less choice, and higher prices for the traveling public. Beyond operational and financial synergies, this merger does not fix many key competitive challenges that haunt both airlines. The purpose of this merger is to increase cost efficiencies and achieve economies of scale. However, bigger is not always better. American Airliness premerger strategy made a lot of sense: Focus not just on operational efficiencies but also on customer effectiveness and global competitiveness. On customer service, U. S. airlines was lagging behind much of the world. It is difficult to see at this point how the new merged entity is going to explicitly improve the customer value proposition or increase international competitiveness. The stock of American Airlines Group Inc. will trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol AAL. Under the mergers terms, US Airways Group common stockholders received one share of common stock of American Airlines Group in exchange for each share of common stock of US Airways Group they held (World, 2014). The combination is likely to be the last major move in the consolidation wave that has reshaped the US airline market in recent years. As part of a deal with the Justice Department to push through American’s merger with U. S. Airways. American Airlines plans to end its direct flights from MSP to New York’s LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National Airports. American agreed to give up some of its airport slots to lower-cost airlines (Brown, 2014). One benefit of the merged airline would be more hubs. Keeping both American and US Airways hubs would make it easier to handle weather problems or mechanical issues (Brown, 2014). It’s a real advantage to travelers because the system is more redundant and it has a lot of back-up at multiple hubs. US Airways top executives will hold more of the top leadership spots at the new American Airlines. Current US Airways CEO Doug Parker will lead the merged carrier. Five of the top eight executives named to his post-merger management team will come from the US Airways side. American CEO Tom Horton will become chairman of the board and will stay on through the first meeting of the new board next year. Upon exploring the American Airlines website, they have loaded a message for their customers, â€Å"Creating a stronger airline for you†. The message states: â€Å"This is an exciting time for our employees and customers. Through our merger with US Airways, we’re able to provide you with greater schedule options, access to more destinations around the globe and a modern fleet. On January 7th, we began rolling out enhanced benefits to you, including:  ¦More opportunities to earn and redeem AAdvantage ® miles when flying on American or US Airways, with all eligible travel on either airline counting toward elite status qualification in the program of your choice  ¦The ability to easily stay connected while you fly with Monthly Traveler and Daily Wi-Fi passes, which are now valid on both American Airlines and US Airways flights  ¦Reciprocal benefits for elite status members when flying either airline, including First and Business Class check-in, complimentary checked bags and priority security and boarding  ¦More lounge access, with reciprocal club access for Admirals Club and US Airways Club members â€Å"We’re starting to combine some of our flight schedules and are now selling codeshare tickets for flights beginning January 23, 2014. This means more access to our expanded network. Our codeshare with US Airways means that we are able to sell seats on each other’s flights† (American Airlines, 2014). So what is next for American Airlines? The company’s leaders admit that they have a long way to go to integrate loyalty programs, systems, operations, workforces and fleet. All of this will take some time, but they promise to keep their customers updated as changes are made that benefit the customer. Coming up on the horizon, US Airways will join the oneworld ® alliance on March 31, 2014, this will allow customers to enjoy access to even more destinations around the world through our vast global network (American Airlines, 2014).