A Raisin In The Sun
A Raisin In The Sun: Lorraine Hansberry’s revolutionary play “The Raisin in the Sun” is the first African-American play that depicted a classically black family on an American stage, in an age when predominantly black audiences simply did not exist. Before this play, African-American roles, usually small and comedic, largely employed ethnic stereotypes.
As the youngest female black play writer on Broadway, she paved the way for wholly owned African-American stories to be told on a stage which was predominantly white in the late 1950’s. “The Raisin in the Sun” is poignant in modern day as it was 60 years ago with its themes still relevant in contemporary times.
In climaxing the month long celebration of Black History in Ghana, the play will highlight the struggles of the black man: the often misplaced American dream which is still being pursued vigorously by numerous Africans.
Walter Young the protagonist of the play epitomizes millions of African youth who will do anything and everything often travelling very dangerous terrains, falling prey to visa fraudsters or paying huge sums of money to have the American dream forgetting that any dream can be a reality irrespective of place or terrain with the right mental fortitude and attitude.
“The Raisin in the Sun” will drive home much needed lessons; teach essential social and moral values. Historically the production will be the first of its kind outside of the United States and in particular, Ghana. The celebration of this heroic African and for that matter a woman will be eternally written down in Ghana’s history.
Socially the Young family at the center of the play is identifiable to any family all over the world who struggle on a continual basis to up their status in society often times through the wrong way or the misunderstood way.
Culturally the play shows how African American families and by extension African families, are male dominated often to the detriment of the whole family. The perception that the male knows best, is realized in the character, Walter Young whose dream of opening a liquor shop with his father’s retirement money nearly marred the ambition of Mrs. Young in moving her family to a much better neighborhood.
Don’t count me out campaign:
Don’t count me out campaign: The Queen Mothers Foundation f in collaboration with the Ghana federation of the disabled has initiated the DCMO media campaign to add its voice to the plight of the marginalized in society.
The campaign will be driven hugely on radio, television and on social media in partnership with AFIBA, a Ghanaian afro pop songstress whose hit song “Don’t Count Me out” is the voice of the campaign.
The campaign will run for approximately 16 weeks and will include attestation from the creative industry, persons with disabilities, civil society, religious bodies and the diplomatic community.
