Societal Stereotypes: Their Effect On Society In T

2370 Words10 Pages
Huan Lin Jeffery Ezell LIT 2100 April 13, 2010 Societal Stereotypes: Their Effect on Society in Two Different Periods Over time, society changes constantly; sometimes the changes cannot be immediately accepted. But in the long run, they could become a remarkable foundation. For example, an African-American, Barack Obama, has become the 44th president of the United State of America. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen both tell stories about how society affects different men in families and how one group of people treats another. A Raisin in the Sun, a book suggests that the ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” can become reality for anyone who is willing to work for what would be called the American Dream (Washington 114). For some, it does come true; for many, it does not. In this play, most of the family members want a new home in a white neighborhood; but racism is one of many reasons in which that block them from owing the house. When this play was written, African-Americans were the subject of prejudice and discrimination. In act II Scene 3, Karl Lindner appears; he is a white man who represents the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. He and the neighborhood he represents believe they have the right to have the racial makeup of the neighborhood in a certain way. They do not want any African-Americans to live in their neighborhood. Even though he uses fancy and polite words to say it, it does not change what he wants to say. His words are hurtful and discriminating. He’s exact words are: “At the moment the overwhelming majority of our people out there feel that people get along better, take more of a common interest in the life of the community, when they share a common background. I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it” (Hansberry 118). He
Open Document