What defines What defines the American the American

Dream?Dream?

““Life, liberty, and the Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”pursuit of happiness”

-every citizens unalienable/legal rights-every citizens unalienable/legal rights

-The United States Declaration of Independence-The United States Declaration of Independence

TheThe Civil Rights Act of Civil Rights Act of 18661866

•A US federal law that made everyone born in the A US federal law that made everyone born in the America full citizens. America full citizens.

"All persons within the jurisdiction of the "All persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right in United States shall have the same right in

every State and Territory to make and enforce every State and Territory to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, contracts, to sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and proceedings for the security of persons and property as is enjoyed by white citizens, and property as is enjoyed by white citizens,

and shall be subject to like punishment, and shall be subject to like punishment, pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, and pains, penalties, taxes, licenses, and

exactions of every kind, and to no other."exactions of every kind, and to no other."

Southern United StatesSouthern United States

• still exploiting and segregating by race still exploiting and segregating by race into the 1960sinto the 1960s

• African-Americans went North for a better African-Americans went North for a better life – to live “the American dream”life – to live “the American dream”

• only to find the similar exploitation and only to find the similar exploitation and frustrationfrustration

• May 17, 1954May 17, 1954– The Supreme Court rules on the landmark case Brown v. Board of The Supreme Court rules on the landmark case Brown v. Board of

Education Topeka, Kansas, unanimously agreeing that segregation in Education Topeka, Kansas, unanimously agreeing that segregation in public school is unconstitutionalpublic school is unconstitutional

• July 2, 1964July 2, 1964– President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most

sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, the Civil Rights sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or Act prohibits discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law also provides the federal government with the national origin. The law also provides the federal government with the powers to enforce desegregation. powers to enforce desegregation.

• August 10, 1965August 10, 1965– Congress passes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for Congress passes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it easier for

Southern blacks to register to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other Southern blacks to register to vote. Literacy tests, poll taxes, and other such requirements that were used to restrict black voting are made such requirements that were used to restrict black voting are made illegal. illegal.

• September 24, 1965 September 24, 1965 – Asserting that civil rights laws alone are not enough to remedy Asserting that civil rights laws alone are not enough to remedy

discrimination, President Johnson issues Executive Order 11246, which discrimination, President Johnson issues Executive Order 11246, which enforces affirmative action for the first time. It requires government enforces affirmative action for the first time. It requires government contractors to "take affirmative action" toward prospective minority contractors to "take affirmative action" toward prospective minority employees in all aspects of hiring and employment.employees in all aspects of hiring and employment.

• April 11, 1968April 11, 1968 – President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting

discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.

A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun

• tells the story of the Younger family’s tells the story of the Younger family’s struggling to realize the dream by escaping struggling to realize the dream by escaping

ghetto lifeghetto life

• a life of African-Americans who have few a life of African-Americans who have few choices in a white societychoices in a white society

• reflects the racial attitudes of the 1950sreflects the racial attitudes of the 1950s

Setting:Setting:

Time:Time: 1950s 1950s

Place:Place: Chicago’s South Side Chicago’s South Side

What happens to a What happens to a dream deferred?dream deferred?

Does it dry up like “a raisin in the Does it dry up like “a raisin in the sun”?sun”?

THINK:THINK:

““Dream Deferred”Dream Deferred”What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry upDoes it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?Like a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore—Or fester like a sore—

And then run?And then run?Does it stink like rotten meatDoes it stink like rotten meat

Or crust and sugar over—Or crust and sugar over—Like a syrupy sweet?Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagsMaybe it just sagsLike a heavy load.Like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?Or does it explode?

Langston HughesLangston Hughes