A Raisin in the Sun

For other uses, see A Raisin in the Sun (disambiguation).
A Raisin in the Sun
Front cover of the first edition
First-edition publication (Random House 1959)
Written byLorraine Hansberry
Characters
  • Walter Younger
  • Ruth Younger
  • Beneatha Younger
  • Travis Younger
  • Lena Younger (Mama)
  • George Murchison
  • Joseph Asagai
  • Karl Lindner
  • Mrs. Johnson
  • Bobo
  • Moving Men
Date premieredMarch 11, 1959 (1959-03-11)
Place premieredEthel Barrymore Theatre
Original languageEnglish
GenreDomestic drama
SettingSouth Side, Chicago

A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959.[1] The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred"[2]) by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences in south Chicago, as they attempt to improve their financial circumstances with an insurance payout following the death of the father, and deals with matters of housing discrimination, racism, and assimilation. The New York Drama Critics' Circle named it the best play of 1959, and in recent years publications such as The Independent[3] and Time Out[4] have listed it among the best plays ever written.

  1. ^ Internet Broadway Database. "A Raisin in the Sun | Ethel Barrymore Theatre (3/11/1959 – 10/17/1959)". IBDB. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  2. ^ "A Dream Deferred (by Langston Hughes)". Cswnet.com. 1996-06-25. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  3. ^ "The 40 best plays to read before you die". The Independent. 2019-08-18. Archived from the original on 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  4. ^ "50 Best Plays of All Time: Comedies, Tragedies and Dramas Ranked". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2020-04-16.