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