Effects Of Poverty In A Raisin In The Sun

Many African American families experienced tough times living in Chicago during the 1950’s. In the 1950’s, blacks were still subjected to widespread racism, providing many disadvantages for them in society. The Younger family in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, exemplifies the troubles a black family endured in 1950s Chicago, particularly the father, Walter. Walter experiences many disappointments in his life and is unable to accomplish his ultimate dream of being rich and providing for his family. Walter fails to fulfill his dreams of becoming wealthy due to multiple aspects of the Great Migration, including racism, poverty, and a lack of education for African Americans. Poverty in the black communities is a significant factor in why Walter struggles and fails to achieve his dreams. Many black families struggled with poverty in Chicago: roughly thirty percent of African Americans fell below the poverty line during this time. In addition to that, eight percent of African Americans were unemployed, compared to only two percent of white folks (Bogira). In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter must work as a chauffeur and Ruth, his wife, as a maid. These are the best jobs available for them but nonetheless it is hard to make ends meet, which is illustrated when Ruth cannot even give their son Travis a quarter that he needs for school(Hansberry, 277). Walter is embarrassed about living in poverty and the fact that he, the man of the house, cannot provide for his