A raisin in the sun
Lorraine Hansberry Biography
Once upon a time, there was a schoolteacher and a real-estate broker who decided to get married and start a family. Their fourth child was a girl, who they named Lorraine Hansberry. They raised Lorraine in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Hansberry was a very progressive man. He purchased a home in the Washington Park subdivision in the south side of Chicago. At the time (around 1938), the area was a prosperous white neighborhood. The whites were not happy with the Hansberry family addition to their neighborhood. They believed that the value of their real estate and property would go down if African American families began to move into the neighborhood. They did all they could to get rid of the Hansberry family. The whites in Washington Park took the case to court… It went all the way to the Supreme Court (Hansberry v. Lee). Later, this experience and her Chicago upbringing would influence her writing.
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Lorraine was taught at a young age that there were two things she should never betray: (1) her family and (2) her race. After high school, Lorraine attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in college, she was a political activist. She studied painting in Mexico for a year. Then, she decided to move to New York to become a writer. She moved to Harlem in 1951. She became a journalist for the newspaper Freedom. She worked closely with W.E.B. Du Bois. Lorraine was extremely active and progressive in her political views. She supported the Civil Rights movement and other movements against imperialism in the world. She wrote openly about her perspective.
In 1953, Lorraine married Robert Nemiroff (two peas in a pod). However, some people believe she was a lesbian… guess we will never know for sure. Lorraine and her husband decided to live in Greenwich Village (NY), because that was the cool place to be at the time. There were a lot of progressive political movement supporters there. At age 29, Lorraine wrote the play A Raisin in the Sun. In March of 1959, it became the first play on Broadway written by an African American woman.
In 1963, Lorraine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She and Nemiroff divorced the following year, but continued to work together. At the age of 34, she died from the cancer. However, she is remembered today in English classrooms across the United States for her perspective on the struggles of African Americans when seeking and fighting to gain equitable opportunities in American society.
In 1953, Lorraine married Robert Nemiroff (two peas in a pod). However, some people believe she was a lesbian… guess we will never know for sure. Lorraine and her husband decided to live in Greenwich Village (NY), because that was the cool place to be at the time. There were a lot of progressive political movement supporters there. At age 29, Lorraine wrote the play A Raisin in the Sun. In March of 1959, it became the first play on Broadway written by an African American woman.
In 1963, Lorraine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She and Nemiroff divorced the following year, but continued to work together. At the age of 34, she died from the cancer. However, she is remembered today in English classrooms across the United States for her perspective on the struggles of African Americans when seeking and fighting to gain equitable opportunities in American society.
Background Knowledge
Spoken Word
You will be assigned one of three poems. The poems are "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Dunbar, "Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes, and "Chicago" by Carl Sandburg. You will need to be creative and create a way to introduce this poem to the class through the art of spoken word. Two examples of spoken word are below.
In your journal, respond to the videos above. What do you think about the message? Do you agree or disagree with what the speaker is saying? Pay attention to body language, eye contact, intonation, etc. How do these influence the message the speaker is conveying?
"We wear the mask"
by paul dunbar
"Let america be america again"
by langston hughes
"Chicago"
by Carl Sandburg
Booker t. washington vs. W.e.b. du bois
As you watch the video, take notes on the guided powerpoint provided to you. Pay attention to the similarities and differences between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Discussion questions
As you read the play. you are expected to answer discussion questions.
No,
these are not assigned to make your life miserable and take away all of your
free time. These are assigned to help you make sense of the text. If you are
reading and paying attention to what we discuss in class, these questions will
be easy to answer. Subsequently, they will not be time consuming to answer. I
expect complete sentences
when you answer the questions. Be
sure to answer all parts of the question. Please use a separate sheet
of paper to answer the questions.
Assimilation & Acculturation
The Younger Family and Asagai
Board Notes.
Abortion in the 1950s
Ruth's Choice
Prometheus Allusion
ARITS Vocabulary
American Dream Posters
Directions: You will be creating a movie or play poster for A Raisin in the Sun. This will tie into the American Dream theme. You will need to select there characters and explain their American Dream. With each explanation, you need to include a quote from the text. Be creative!
Tweet Ending
You are responsible for writing an alternative or extended ending to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun through a tweet. Instead of using 140 characters, you must use 140 words. Pay attention to word choice and sentence fluency. Be sure to include a hashtag at the end of your tweet. Have fun with this and be creative!
A Raisin in the Sun Magazine
Directions: We will be creating a magazine that highlights some of the events, themes, characters, and renditions of the American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun. Each person will be in charge of writing an article for the class magazine. Each article needs to be at least one page in length. You will have a lot of creative freedom when writing your article. However, Standard English and grammar rules do apply. As always, use complete sentences and well-structured responses. Each article should have a thesis statement.
Article Ideas
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The ProcessStep 1: Decide on a name for our magazine
Step 2: Select an article topic to write about Step 3: Write your magazine articles Step 4: Create the magazine Thesis FormationYour thesis statement should tell the main idea of the article. It should include: Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun. On your notecard. Answer three questions that will be answered in your article. Then, you need to create an answer to all three questions using one sentence. This will be your thesis statement. Turn in your thesis statement to the turn in tray so that I can approved it and give you feedback before moving forward.
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Potential Article Prompts
The American Dream Revisited:
How does the concept of the American Dream tie into A Raisin in the Sun? Think about the movie posters we created in class. What is each character’s American dream? Do they achieve their American Dream or do you think they will achieve their American dream?
Character Spotlights:
How does Lorraine Hansberry develop characters throughout the text? Are there any characters that compliment each other? Are there any characters that are opposites? Compare and contrast two characters in the text.
Assimilation and Acculturation:
How is assimilation and acculturation present in A Raisin in the Sun? How is assimilation and acculturation present today on the Reservation? Give specific examples. Is assimilation good or bad? Is acculturation good or bad?
Racism in America:
Identify three areas in the text where racism is noticeable in A Raisin in the Sun. Think about the jobs of the Younger Family. Think about Lindner in the text. Think about the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and the “Welcoming Committee.” Think about the newspaper that Mrs. Johnson brings over.
Feminism in America:
Compare and contrast Ruth and Beneatha in the text. Beneatha is a very progressivist character. In what ways does Beneatha represent the rise in woman empowerment in the late 1950s? What goals or opinions does she have that many women did not before her time?
Life in the Southside of Chicago:
Describe life in Chicago for African Americans during this time frame. What was the housing like (Younger apartment)? What jobs were available? Consider: segregation, house bombings, abortion opportunities, financial statuses, or issues of alcoholism.
Asagai’s Philosophy:
What is Asagai’s view on life? What are the differences between idealism and realism? Think about the characters in the text. Which characters would be idealists? Which characters would be realists? Tie this to present day. Are their idealists and realists in the world today? Are they making a change? Give an example.
Changes Through Time:
Describe Mama’s view on life. How is it different from Walter and Beneatha’s views on life? How are they similar? How are they different? Are there generational gaps today in modern society? If so, how do they compare to those in A Raisin in the Sun?
How does the concept of the American Dream tie into A Raisin in the Sun? Think about the movie posters we created in class. What is each character’s American dream? Do they achieve their American Dream or do you think they will achieve their American dream?
Character Spotlights:
How does Lorraine Hansberry develop characters throughout the text? Are there any characters that compliment each other? Are there any characters that are opposites? Compare and contrast two characters in the text.
Assimilation and Acculturation:
How is assimilation and acculturation present in A Raisin in the Sun? How is assimilation and acculturation present today on the Reservation? Give specific examples. Is assimilation good or bad? Is acculturation good or bad?
Racism in America:
Identify three areas in the text where racism is noticeable in A Raisin in the Sun. Think about the jobs of the Younger Family. Think about Lindner in the text. Think about the Clybourne Park Improvement Association and the “Welcoming Committee.” Think about the newspaper that Mrs. Johnson brings over.
Feminism in America:
Compare and contrast Ruth and Beneatha in the text. Beneatha is a very progressivist character. In what ways does Beneatha represent the rise in woman empowerment in the late 1950s? What goals or opinions does she have that many women did not before her time?
Life in the Southside of Chicago:
Describe life in Chicago for African Americans during this time frame. What was the housing like (Younger apartment)? What jobs were available? Consider: segregation, house bombings, abortion opportunities, financial statuses, or issues of alcoholism.
Asagai’s Philosophy:
What is Asagai’s view on life? What are the differences between idealism and realism? Think about the characters in the text. Which characters would be idealists? Which characters would be realists? Tie this to present day. Are their idealists and realists in the world today? Are they making a change? Give an example.
Changes Through Time:
Describe Mama’s view on life. How is it different from Walter and Beneatha’s views on life? How are they similar? How are they different? Are there generational gaps today in modern society? If so, how do they compare to those in A Raisin in the Sun?
Article Checklist
___ Introductory Paragraph (5 points)
___ Utilizes a rhetorical question, anecdote, or fact to engage audience. (2 points)
___ Includes a well constructed and teacher approved thesis statement. (2 points)
___ Mentions A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
___ Supporting Paragraph One (5 points)
___ Includes a topic sentence, which supports thesis statement. (2 points)
___ Includes textual support (in-text quotation and citation). (2 points)
___ Includes explanation of how textual support supports topic sentence. (1 point)
___ Supporting Paragraph One (5 points)
___ Includes a topic sentence, which supports thesis statement. (2 points)
___ Includes textual support (in-text quotation and citation). (2 points)
___ Includes explanation of how textual support supports topic sentence. (1 point)
___ Supporting Paragraphs (Three, Four, or Five) (Brownie Points)
___ Additional paragraphs are optional, but should follow a similar format as previous supporting paragraphs. If you decide to include additional paragraphs, I will be impressed and I will not dock points for any errors after the first two paragraphs. I will give you feedback on any additional paragraphs you choose to write though!
___ Conclusion (5 points)
___ Re-states the thesis statement in a new way. (1 point)
___ Re-summarizes two topic sentences. (2 points)
___ Offers an overarching lesson or take-away. (2 points)
___ out of 20 Points Possible
___ Utilizes a rhetorical question, anecdote, or fact to engage audience. (2 points)
___ Includes a well constructed and teacher approved thesis statement. (2 points)
___ Mentions A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
___ Supporting Paragraph One (5 points)
___ Includes a topic sentence, which supports thesis statement. (2 points)
___ Includes textual support (in-text quotation and citation). (2 points)
___ Includes explanation of how textual support supports topic sentence. (1 point)
___ Supporting Paragraph One (5 points)
___ Includes a topic sentence, which supports thesis statement. (2 points)
___ Includes textual support (in-text quotation and citation). (2 points)
___ Includes explanation of how textual support supports topic sentence. (1 point)
___ Supporting Paragraphs (Three, Four, or Five) (Brownie Points)
___ Additional paragraphs are optional, but should follow a similar format as previous supporting paragraphs. If you decide to include additional paragraphs, I will be impressed and I will not dock points for any errors after the first two paragraphs. I will give you feedback on any additional paragraphs you choose to write though!
___ Conclusion (5 points)
___ Re-states the thesis statement in a new way. (1 point)
___ Re-summarizes two topic sentences. (2 points)
___ Offers an overarching lesson or take-away. (2 points)
___ out of 20 Points Possible