Proceedings of The 6th International Conference on Advanced Research in Social Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI:
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Yoruba Mythology in A Raisin in the Sun
Inmaculada Caro Rodríguez
ABSTRACT:
A Raisin in the Sun (1959), a play written by the African-American playwright and social activist Lorraine Hansberry, is a work which highlights how holding on to one’s roots can be a way to evolve and move forward in a Black-American family called the Youngers, that is trying to escape from a ghetto in the South Side of Chicago, where they struggle against poverty and suffer from discrimination, because of racial prejudice. In spite of all these difficulties, they try to do their best to achieve their dreams. This study consists of associating a specific kind of mythology, that is Yoruba mythology (involving the Orishas), with several gods that can be linked with some of the characters that are presented in this realistic drama, as a way to keep the African culture as a means in their hearts and minds not to forget one’s origins to prosper, apart from acknowledging that being proud of the ancestors, heritage and colour without any sort of denial have a universal quality that is able to lead not only to respect, but to recognition and can even make anyone identify with several situations such as those shown in this play around the world.
keywords: culture, dreams, heritage, poverty and Yoruba mythology