How Dreams Affect History and Our Everyday Lives
Raisin in the Sun Presentation Project
By Ben Aloi
Idealism vs. Realism
WASHINGTON VS. DUBOIS
Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963)
Born into slavery
Established Tuskegee University
Taught practical skills/physical labor Carpentry, farming, shoemaking, etc. for
boys
Cleaning, cooking for girls
Supported segregation
Accepted social inequality Blacks should educate themselves
Rely on the kindness of whites
Influential advisor to Teddy Roosevelt
First African-American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard
Wrote The Souls of Black Folk
Rejected Washington’s policies
Founder of NAACP
Outspoken political/social activist Wanted full citizenship rights for black
people
Favored liberal arts education
Criticized American imperialism, capitalism
Labeled a communist
Internationally respected
BLACK PANTHER PARTY
Founded in 1966 Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton
Merritt College, Oakland, California
Organized armed patrol in cities Combated policy brutality
“Observe and protect”
5,000 members by 1968 Grew from self-defense to
revolutionary attacks May 2, 1967: 30 armed Panthers
marched into the CA state capitol in Sacramento
Socialist ideology
MY ETHNIC BACKGROUND
50% English, 25% Italian, 25% Greek Father’s side celebrates Greek Easter Parents married in Greek Orthodox church Does not factor into my identity Interesting family history, but doesn’t define me Value social traits over physical characteristics Plays a much bigger role in Raisin in the Sun
Tribe/Ancestors define Asagai
Bennie identifies with Nigerian culture
Mama and Walter’s racial pride
George’s rejection of black culture
PERSONAL GOALS
Graduate from a good college Psychology or International Relations
Study abroad
Live in the city Help disadvantaged people Speak other languages
Raisin in the Sun• Dreams almost never reflect reality• Sometimes others have to come first• Theme: A man’s mind often exceeds
his reach
CONCLUSION
• Value of a dream depends on who it’s benefiting• The ends do not always justify the means
• Black Panthers became violent (indistinguishable from their oppressors)• Walter’s pursuit of happiness hurt his family
• On a personal level, always be true to yourself• Goals should be adjusted, not constant• Selfish dreams are extremely dangerous• Don’t lose sight of what’s really important in life