In America, every citizen is guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While each person is afforded these rights, it is how each person uses them that defines his or her success in America. There are several obstacles that some Americans face in the pursuit of happiness. In this country's past, Americans lived by a very specific set of beliefs that valued the importance of hard work, faith, and family. As time passed and America began to evolve as a nation, this capitalist society became no longer dedicated to family and faith, but rather to success and the pursuit of prosperity. The shift from reliance on tradition to a society that values ​​success and how people struggle to succeed when society makes it difficult marks a common theme in Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun. Two of This story's main characters, Lena Younger (Mama) and her son Walter Lee, directly reflect the shift from tradition to a focus on success and capital and the struggles they face regarding racism. Mama and Walter Lee's contrasting values ​​regarding the American dream and how they pursue their dreams while facing racism exemplify the shift from valuing tradition as in previous generations in America, to valuing success and prosperity as in more current generations . The way Lorraine Hansberry was raised was crucial to the development of many of her plays, particularly A Raisin in the Sun. On May 19, 1930, Hansberry was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Carl and Nannie Hansberry. Both of his parents were known for their work in civil rights and social equality. Also, his great-grandfather William Hansberry, a slave who could read and write who was freed when... middle of paper... they were changing, but being African American could prevent a person from achieving their goals and achieving success and , in doing so, completely forget the importance of family and tradition. Through this play, Hansberry asserts that America's values ​​are constantly changing and evolving. The American dream is constantly transformed and people take different actions based on their beliefs, but factors such as racism can prevent a person from being successful and achieving their dreams. Works Cited Galens, David and Lynn M. Spampinato, eds. Dramaturgy for students. vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Print.Hansberry, Lorraine. A raisin in the sun. New York: Conway Printing, 1958. Print.McKissack, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack. Young, black and determined. New York: Holiday, 1998. Print.Otfinoski, Steven. Great black writers. New York: Facts on File, 1994. Print.