Questions on this topic? Just ask!

Let Freedom Ring: Comparing Themes in A Raisin in the Sun and Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Sp

Summary:   Compares the novel "A Raisin in the Sun" with Martin Luther King's speech "I Have a Dream." Analyzes the similar themes found in each literary piece including racial injustice, socio-economic discrimination and dream fulfillment.

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, a play about the struggles of five black family members and Martin Luther king Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech are two remarkable works of literature that convey the black mans struggle to overcome prejudice and fulfill his dreams like any white man. There are many aspects that are discussed in both a Raisin in the Sun and "I have a dream" speech. Perhaps the most important of those are racial injustice, socio-economic discrimination, and unity and the struggle for the American dream.

A Raisin in the Sun and "I Have a Dream" speech both deal with many issues but none more important than injustice. Racism was the root cause of all the discrimination and injustice African Americans faced. Segregation is one example. Martin Luther king stated in his speech "The life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination." This is exemplified in A Raisin in the Sun when mama buys a new house in an all-white neighborhood. Mr. Lindner from the Clybourne Park Association offers to buy the Youngers' new home to prevent them from moving in because they were black. Adding profound meaning to the play is the difference between the apartment in which they live and their dream home; one that represents oppression and the other freedom. White people were also bombings of Black Americans that moved into white neighborhoods.

Socio-economic discrimination was another main theme discussed in both A Raisin in the Sun and "I Have a Dream" speech. Martin Luther King sadly said "the negro still lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity." The Youngers live in a small cramped apartment in poverty-stricken Southside Chicago where Travis is forced to sleep on the sofa. The effects of their poverty lead to oppression. Ruth, Walter Lee, and Mama work at degrading jobs, serving rich white people. All of this takes a toll on them as they come home daily to a bleak reminder of their poverty, an apartment that offers them nothing more than gloom and dreariness. When Ruth discovered that she was pregnant she immediately thought of getting an abortion because they could not afford to support another child in the family. When mama goes looking for a house to buy she said "them houses they put up for colored in them areas way out always seem to cost twice as much."

Unity and the struggle for the American dream make up another important aspect portrayed in A Raisin in the Sun and Kings speech. Mama always reminded her children that family is the most important thing, and that they must work together to make this bond stronger in order to make their dreams come true. With a close- knit family even racism cannot deter them from following their dreams. Martin Luther King emphasized that "With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day." This stresses that they must be united to overcome the obstacles that they face.

Almost all the characters in the play had a dream they sought to fulfill. Ruth had a dream that they would one day move to a nice house. Beneatha's dream was to become a successful doctor. She was determined to cure mans ailments. Walters dream was to own a liquor store. Mama hoped that the future generation would have a better life with justice and equality. In his speech, Martin Luther King Jr. stated one of his many dreams. He said "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." He also dreamed that one day justice will emerge. This is his hope and what keeps him going. Both Martin Luther King and the Youngers have dreams that are deeply rooted in the American dream. They dream of justice, freedom, and equality.

When Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech is compared with Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, one can find many similarities. King spoke about injustice and his dream for a new America. The Youngers had many dreams that were unfulfilled because they didn't have equal rights. Although A Raisin in the Sun is a fictional novel, it exemplifies the points Martin Luther King made about racial injustice, socio-economic discrimination and fulfilling dreams in his "I Have a Dream" speech.