A Raisin In The Sun -- A Great Dramatic Scene

"Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most, when he's done good and made everything easy for everybody. Oh no, no, that ain't the time at all. It's when he's at his lowest and he can't believe in himself cause the world done whipped him so. When you start measuring somebody child, measure him right, measure him right. You make sure you've taken into account the hills and the valleys he's come through to get to wherever he is."

Powerful dialogue from the classic and award-winning film based on the play, A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, about a poor working class African-American family struggling for a better way of life while living crammed into a small Chicago apartment during the 1950's. Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil), the matriarch of the family, decides to use part of the proceeds from her deceased husband's insurance policy to buy a house in the suburbs. However, after being conned out of the rest of the money, her son, Walter Lee (Sidney Poitier), decides to take money from a neighborhood citizens group not to move into the house which is in an all White suburb. This earns him the total contempt from his sister, Beneatha (Diana Sands) and despair from his mother. His wife is played by Ruby Dee.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Raisin
• In
• The
• Sun
• Lorraine
• Hansberry
• Transforming
• Power
• Black
• History
• Sidney
• Poitier
• Ruby
• Dee
• Love
• Claudia
• McNe

[zenguy22]

This is acting 101. This is better then the newer one. Marvelous!

[Tonyman182]

One of the greatest plays in american literature.

[BTURNER1961]

i have to say this is one of the finest moments in drama. I have tended towards the judgmental side with my family on more than one occasion. This scene has humbled me every time. Can dram do more, than teach the unwilling what humanity is at its bes,t and what we can become?

[Laitharex]

Powerfull words, Indeed.

[tlgcarter]

I agree, Diddy did not pull it off in the new version. Walter Lee's character has to be played by a very skills actor such as Sydney P. Maybe Denzel could have. 

[LUCKYBROOKS]

Mama slapping her daughter has to be taken in the context that she lived. '' Spare the rod and spoil the child' was what was believed. Of course, she loved Beneatha

that 'slap' was a 'wake-up' call ; and not 'child abuse' . Now kids knowall about their 'rights' - but not their RESP (ECT) ONSABILITY.

[CrabTastingMan]

"My father almost beat a man to death cuz he called him some kinda name, y'know?"

"... *stares down at his own hands*"

lol, I can see that mousy white negotiator sweating bullets...

[RSDjam17]

@zenguy22 LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this movie and play. I directed this scene for my college directing class and my scene won best scene. So so good this play is

[gplus46]

brilliance!!

[TayLadiiP]

O' how I love this movie.... The truth never dies.... Classic

[ccipollini1984]

I kinda feel sorry for the white guy. You can tell all he wants to do is get the hell outta there!

[druha10304]

Whats the part where he says how come you college boys wear them faggity looking white shoes. they look funny as hell.