Unit 1B Web Quest
The American Dream / Anthony Pantoja
The American Dream Defined
To me the American Dream means when someone who lives in America has reached the goal of being wealthy and healthy constantly by working hard.
Social Life in the 1950s
During the 1950s the social life was easy, for others it would be extremely bad. Racism was a huge problem, segregation was an actual thing during this time. Black and white Americans had their own schools,neighborhoods, bathrooms. Many white Americans were racist towards black Americans, treating them like they were not humans. The equality was unbalanced during this time, white Americans had a lot more privileges and more opportunities from black Americans. All this unbalanced inequality made it impossible for African Americans to reach the "American Dream".
Education in the 1950s
School integration was going on during the 1950s. Even though Black and White Americans had their own schools the American government said they were "separate but equal" which was a lie. White Americans had a lot more opportunities from the black Americans. One of the many problems that prevented from African Americans getting to the American Dream.
Economical / Political Climate in the 1950s
In the 1950s they liked to name it boom, this is because the economy was booming. There was about four million babies being born each year in the 1950s. The reason for this because many Americans started to realize that the United States army was strong and will be able to feel protected. This gave the thought that they could have big families in America. Their was much more money being made and unemployment was an all time low. Since African Americans families got bigger the civil right acts started, letting African Americans more opportunities.
Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry is a African American female born in May 19, 1930 on the south side of Chicago. Lorraine and her family were poor, but not as poor as other families around them. Lorraine and her family decided to move into a white neighborhood, the racism towards them was bad. They would get attacked and verbally abused by white people. Lorraine grew up to become a writer and also write plays. Lorraine skills and work got her to be the first African American woman to have a play on Broadway.
A Dream Deferred
A Dream Deferred was pick for the title because of social, educational,economical, and political climates at the time. If you were African American your dreams would take a long time to reach, nearly impossible. She chose this poem because to have a connection with her play because all dreams are different.
Impact on African American Dream Quest
Lorraine Hansberry wrote this play to show viewers the racism and bad climates during the 1950s. The bad times and how the opportunities for African Americans were low, they couldn't make the dream from these actions. The daily way African Americans would live through the horrible treatment towards them.