One of the most iconic books ever written in history, A Raisin in the Sun, was about the struggles of a family the Youngers in the 60’s , the civil rights decade. The culture differences and opportunity variety from 1959 and 2018 drastically differ from each other, in many different ways. But has one ever stop and think how the Youngers’ lives would change? If the novel “A Raisin in the Sun” took place in modern times , 2018 for example the family would be alot more open to job and career opportunities, and could get financial aid if needed.But one thing really hit me. Instead of just focusing on how their lives would be in just 2018, how would the novel’s plot play out in different time periods? How would Beneatha achieve her dream? How would Walter achieve his? What possible outcome could make or break the Younger family? I always wondered how history and culture of the different time periods would affect the plot and the characters. The times I will be talking about are approximately 30 years from each other , just to add definite contrast to the comparisons (20´s,80's and the present 2018).

1920’s
The 1920’s was a time that put racial hatred in the spotlight for the world to see. Many racist groups like the Ku Klux Klan was SUPER active. Things like lynching, white riots, public executions just to name a few , were happening often. So if the Youngers were to live in the 1920s, its likely they would be dead, beaten or seperated.It's sad but true, white supremacy was  absolutely normal in past American society. The opportunity and career choice would be VERY scarce, let alone IMPOSSIBLE and good jobs are limited. Beneatha becoming a doctor wouldn’t even be a possibility, especially being a black in the 20s, being a BLACK WOMAN in the 20’s. Overall, the most possible of dreams that have to do with money, Walter’s is most possible, even though it has a low success rate, but still considering that if plot were to take place in the 1920’s , that is still a very small chance for it to succeed, just like in the novel. I’m very certain that Mama wouldn't even get a check in the first place, since it was likely that retirement and/or welfare checks were not given to blacks at that time. Which would cancel out the the entire meaning and purpose to the plot, which would really be a downer. In my opinion, I think the book instead would be about them struggling  being safe away from racist nincompoops who like the sheer agony of murdering innocent people. Oh, and we can't forget the house. The house they would live in would be the crummiest, most disgusting hole to ever call the home. Like I said before, this was a time of racial hatred, so whites could care less of how they lived, where they lived, who they lived with , it didn't matter to them. Mama and Ruth's dream of family could be damaged in this scenario, because the family could easily be torn apart within an instant.

1980’s
Fast-forwarding some decades, the 80’s was DEFINITELY a lot less violent since the Ku Klux Klan wasn’t active. But there was a huge culture change, and new issues set on the surface. The Youngers would have a much more prosperous life and would have less trouble finding any jobs or careers. Beneatha's dream of becoming a doctor is much, MUCH more possible, even considering the still-low success rate, and even though America was still quite fickle , especially when it came to women doing stuff men can do, this was a good outcome for her. Walter's dream of having a liquor store is also very possible because the of the freedom of bondage called segregation. But there is really two sides of this. A, they can live a dream life and all of that or B they can try , and fail. Those two outcomes all depends on their education. In this case, Beneatha becoming a doctor in scenario is definitely the most likely because one, we don't even know if Walter graduated college, let alone attended. If we assume he didn't, his dream could come up to a good start, and then fail miserably .Also , let's consider the possibility of Mama still not wanting to support Walter’s dream. He would have no starting money to buy the store . And two, Beneatha was attending college in the novel, so let's assume she graduated. She wants to go to a doctor school, to get a PHD. That is where the problems start to kick in with her dream. How much is it? Is it too much? Who will pay for it? All of these factors are the most important cons , but Beneatha still has a chance. Mama and Ruth's dream is actually very safe in this scenario, unless they lived in a stereotypical black community(which they probably would, but let's assume they didn't)and if they did, there could be a slight chance that they could get caught up in the streets, as in police brutality and gang violence. I think the most vulnerable to this is Travis. What if  he meets the wrong friends? Or somehow get himself caught up in something violent? He might get into something he wasn't even prepared for. He might even come across gang violence and be killed, which would damage Mama and Ruth's dream GREATLY.

2018

Ah, the good ole present. Now the Youngers would have the BEST outcomes in this scenario and here's why. The present is literally FLOWING in opportunity and job openings, the Youngers would have been amazed. There's actually a lot more racial acceptance now and less visible racial tension. Beneatha could easily become a doctor, since there are so many black female doctors now. Walters dream is possible if he could keep it together on his own, and get a license to buy a store. Mama and Ruth's dream of having a good family can be safe at last . They would have a really good life….. Or so you thought. Even though there endless good opportunities out there but they all depend on one thing. Money. ¨It makes the world go ŕound¨ John Kander says. Yes, I do know that Mama would still get her check, but things in 2018 is much more expensive than it was in 1959, so there might be a little more financial struggle. Something that can also happen is discrimination in certain cases, such as housing, just like in the novel. Not only that, but we still do have to consider the politics in this time. We do know there is issues upon issues of racial discrimination in the present. Yes, they might have a great life, but that doesn’t keep them safe from racism, from police brutality, and issues within the black community as a whole. Only to add on to that, they would also have to face the slight undertones of racism in modern times. Now don't get me wrong, RACISM WAS A LOT WORSE BACK THEN, but I argue that racism was only bad back then because of the obvious forceful presence of white supremacy and Jim Crow laws. But in the present, they would have to face the invisible forces of racism, for example, like being stereotyped with negative traits and assets and having people who blind to such things like this treat them accordingly. So yes, they do have the best outcomes in this scenario, but we still have to consider all of the social conflict that comes with it.

In conclusion, The different time scenarios that I have explained to you have their own pros and cons , but they all have one thing in common. They all have some kind of social issues within them. All of these scenarios are probable, there is so so much more possibilities that could lie ahead of them. I’m sure you’re thinking “What the fuck am I gonna take out of this?” Well, Lets review.All of the scenarios I have explained have social issues. What if there’s a family out there just like the Youngers? They could be literally going through what I just explained, so lets be heroes and change the possibilities for families like the Youngers. Once they can find that prosperous life they wanted the can unlock the one true question that Lorraine Hansberry had, “Will there be a good ending to families like the youngers?”