Review of “Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry. New York: Vintage Books, 1958.
(This review was written for the members of my informal writers’ group but for other readers too. Well, it is not “informal writers” as much as it is an “informal group.” You know what I mean.)
Someday when I have time and money to do so, I am going to have a more formal writers' group and maybe also a book club. Several of you in the group have heard me say this before. I look forward to that day, and I think the meetings for both such organizations will be some kind of high-tech hybrid -- with some people in the room, some on Skype or Zoom, and perhaps some in a spaceship or by hologram from another planet. I look forward to those days.
I recently finished reading a copy of “Raisin in the Sun” I had found in a big box of misc. books at my favorite thrift shop. It took a while to keep getting back to it. I managed to finish it and looked around at what I am seeing in this city.
In the story, the Younger family is faced with news you could call the good, the bad, and the evil. They all want to take part in helping make a very big decision indeed. Living on the Southside of Chicago, they are faced with the possibility of making a big transition.
The story was written in 1958 and discusses the possible move of this Black family from a Chicago apartment to a house in the suburbs. Themes of race, racism, money, inequity, purpose, and tradition are just some of the thoughts that arise. The story is a play that was made into a movie also.
The story helps empower the coming revolution in the 60s to seize rights for Blacks—and for women. This was true in America and then also true in Africa. It is as very important book, and it was produced on Broadway, and it was made into a movie. The story kept going and growing and by now is mentioned in passing but not read as often or as thoroughly as it really should be.
I do not know how much Chicago has changed since the time of the story. I do not know if you have read the book -- but I would encourage you to do so. Those of you in the group (yes, there is a group receiving this rambling message) who are from Chicago (about half of you) might have some thoughts about the constantly hungry demon called "gentrification" and its pressures on old neighborhoods in the city.
Gentrification is a related phenomenon... springing from wealth and raining on race.
People who think racism is gone perhaps have their head in the sand as Chicago is always about 5 seconds from erupting... people are angry. A year ago we had riots in this city, and on a regular basis there are marches, demonstrations, and other forms of speaking up and speaking out.
All of these “eruptions” are clear signs of how close to the surface the anger is.
This book—and so many others about the city--would make great discussion pieces in a writers' group and a book club. I hope someday there will be time to discuss more... especially all of these themes occurring all around us, still.
There are some things that persist—and some things that do not. Important to consider is this question: “What happens to a dream deferred?...” (Langston Hughes)