Which poem by Langston Hughes inspired the title for A Raisin in Sun?
The title of Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" was inspired by Langston Hughes's poem "Harlem." The relevant line in the poem is: "What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?" Hansberry used this line to symbolize the dreams and aspirations of African Americans living in poverty and racism, which are often deferred or even destroyed. The title of the play suggests that the deferred dreams of these characters will eventually come to fruition, like a raisin that has been dried in the sun and is ready to be enjoyed.