ARITS thesis

• Hansberry addressed feminist questions ahead of their time through Beneatha: proposing that marriage is not a necessary and that women should and can have ambitious career goals.
• Not only does Hansberry explore the tensions between white Americans and African Americans, but also the strain within the AA community over how to react to white oppression (assimilationism vs Pan-Africanism )
• Hansberry wrote she always felt the inclination to record her experiences, and she was one of the first playwrights to create a realistic portrayal of the AA experience.
• She used her newfound fame from ARITS to bring attention to American civil rights movement and the AA struggle for independence from colonialism.
• As a Black woman who lived through the social constraints of 1950s South Side Chicago, enduring segregation and patriarchy, her authentic portrayal of the African American struggle continues to resonate with contemporary audiences
• She uses the conflict between Walter and Ruth to illustrate that marriage will only be successful is both present a strong sense of self respect as well as a willingness to work together.
• Hansberry uses Beneatha to represent the 'shrivel up and die' effect of 'dreams deferred' in Langston Hughes poem
• Hansberry wrote the play to shine light on the importance of a collective dream, and disengage any importance in individualism.
• Drawing from experience, she aims to shine light on the AA experience and provide a sense of hope for the future of AA's, not allowing the play to be a tragedy.