Historical Background

The play takes place somewhere between World War ll and 1959 in the south side of Chicago, Illinois.  The play speaks to issues such as value systems of the black family, concepts of African American beauty and identity, class and generational conflicts, relationships of husbands and wives, and black men and women. During this time residential segregation was common, residential segregation is the physical separation of two or more groups in different neighborhoods. This is why Mr. Lindner doesn't want the Youngers moving into his neighbor because it is an all white community.

Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry is the author of the play A Raisin in the Sun. Her full name is Lorraine Vivian Hansberry and she was born on May 19, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. Lorraine died at a every young at the age of 34 from pancreatic cancer. She also wrote many other books such as The Sign in Sidney Brustien's Window, The Drinking Gourd, The Movement, and Les Blancs. She was the first black woman to have a play be performed on Brodway, Hansberry has also been identified as a lesbian, and sexual freedom is an important topic in several of her works.

Mama (Lena) Younger

Mama is Walter and Beneatha's mother in A Raisin in the Sun. Throughout out the play, Mama has been trying to make the best decisions for her family. She dedicated her life to her children even when they disagree with her. In the middle of the play, Mama goes out and buys a house with the insurance money she gets from the death of Big Walter, her husband. She cares a lot about her plant, since she treats it like her own child. Mama's plant symbolized her future garden at the knew house and it shows that they will have hope for the future. In the play Mama is the meditator of the whole family, she helped Beneatha and Walter get through their fight and she also helped Ruth and Walter figure out their problems and bring them closer together. Mama puts all her faith in Walter towards the end of the story by giving Walter 6,500 dollars but his responsibility failed. But when Walter stands up to Mr. Lindner her faith is restored in Walter.