A Raisin In the Sun Essay Example

In the play A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and the poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou the authors talk about overcoming challenges. In A Raisin In the Sun a young woman named Bennie faces racism and sexism. In “Still I Rise” Maya Angelou speaks of past traumas she has endured and how she overcame them. Both pieces of writing speak of overcoming challenges. Racism and sexism were prominent in the play and the poem. Both allude to the idea that if you persevere and continue believing you will succeed. Maya Angelou, the Youngers, and I have all faced challenges and all of us persevered and ended up seceding. Perseverance will always pay off.

Maya Angelou is an inspiring woman who overcomes many hardships in her life. Maya had a difficult childhood, she was abused and went mute for a period of time. Maya wrote, “Leaving behind nights of terror and fear / I rise” (31-32) Although Maya experienced many terrible things, like muteness. She then proceeded to speak in front of large crowds. She is no longer afraid to speak her mind. Her perseverance and strength has inspired people world-wide. 

Many racist and sexist people were upset by the fact that an African American woman was so successful and would insult and demean her. She wrote, “You may shoot me with your words, / You may cut me with your eyes, / You may kill me with your hatefulness, / But still, like air, I’ll rise” (21-24)  She overcame these insults with her poem, titled Still I Rise. The poem showed that although those insults might have affected her once she has overcome them. Maya Angelou faced many challenges, but no matter what she continued. Maya Angelou wrote herself to fame and fortune, but most importantly she wrote so she could leave behind the things that hurt her. 

Bennie Younger is a strong young woman who faces many challenges like racism and sexism with the help of her family. Bennie Younger and her family have decided to purchase a house. A racist representative from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association attempts to get them to leave the neighborhood. Lorraine wrote, “Our association is prepared, through the collective effort of our people, to buy the house from you at a financial gain to your family.” (118) 

Despite the hardship she dealt with, she embraced her heritage. She asked a man named Joseph Asagai to help her connect to her roots. She then cut her hair, and began to consider moving to Nigeria with Joseph. Bennie is on a date with a sexist man named George Murchison, he repeatedly insults her. George says, “I want you to cut it out, see the moody stuff, I mean. I don't like it. You're a nice - looking girl . . . all over. That’s all you need, honey, forget the atmosphere.” (96) Although she experienced bias, she left George. She embraced her intellect and decided that she would not let anyone tell her what she cannot do. Bennie Younger faced many challenges, but she overcame them all. She accepted all parts of herself enabling her to achieve happiness. 

In the middle of 5th grade I moved to Hingham. I didn't know anybody but was very nervous when I first arrived. I was concerned that I would be too shy to talk to anybody. As I walked into the classroom. I got even more nervous because there were so many people. I overcame this challenge by socializing with a lot of people. I talked with a lot of people in my class, at lunch, in the schoolyard, on my bus, and by the end of the day I had met lots of great people. By the end of the day I was no longer nervous. I met many friendly and welcoming people and was settling into the town very nicely. Although I was nervous at first, I was confident and ended up having a great time and made lots of friends. 

Maya Angelou, Bennie, and I overcame many challenges. All three of us overcome our challenges. We did this by not being afraid and never giving up. If you persevere and never give up, your current challenges will become past experiences that you can look back on to help you face even more obstacles.