Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun Thesis

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This is similar to the specifics of the legal case that Hansberry's father became engaged in over their house in an all white neighborhood. In the real-life version of events, however, things were far less polite. Hansberry's father was actually breaking a legal covenant between property owners of the area that they would not sell to African-Americans, and Carl Hansberry was actually sued for $100,000 -- a huge sum of money in 1937 (and not bad now) (SocialJusticeWiki). Hansberry countersued, claiming that the covenant had denied him his right to be heard, and the Supreme Court agreed, allowing his family to stay in their home on a legal technicality, but not ending the discriminatory covenant (SocialJusticeWiki). In the case of the Youngers, Walter is given a temptation of money, and his ultimate refusal of it -- " We don't want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that's all we got to say about that. We don't want your money" -- signals his transformation to true father and family leader, a transformation that would not have been possible had Hansberry kept the story closer to her own life (Raisin, III, 1).

Most of the criticism of this play recognizes this biographical influence. Even more so, they note the historical and sociological significance of the play's events and character, especially Walter Lee. Ben Brantley, who reviewed the 2004 Broadway revival for the New York Times, notes that "Walter Lee is meant to represent a new generational spirit among African-Americans in a time of social transition" (Brantley).

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Though many aspects of the play could apply to families of any color or ethnicity, there are certain elements that are essentially related to the African-American struggle of the first half of the twentieth century, and critics are careful to point this out. Brooks Atkinson, the Times reviewer for the original production, also notes that despite depicting this historical struggle, Hansberry "has not tipped her play to prove one thing or another" (Atkinson). The ambiguity at the end of the play might be meant to reflect the uncertainty of the African-American struggle, which could still easily be called uncertain today.

Research into Lorraine Hansberry's life and her family's struggles, both legal and social, reveal the significance these things had on Hansberry's work. A careful reading of Raisin in the Sun reveals many similarities between the Youngers and the Hansberrys. There are also many differences, however, and it is these differences that raise Lorraine Hansberry above a mere reporter of facts and into a true literary visionary.

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