The Strength of Characters in A Raisin in the SunIn A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry paints a striking group portrait of the Youngers, a family made up of powerful characters who they are still in many ways typical in their dreams and frustrations. There is Lena, or Mama, the widowed mother; his daughter Beneatha, a medical student; Beneatha's brother Walter, a troubled driver; and Walter's wife, Ruth, and their young son. Crammed together in an airless apartment, the family dreams of better days. Beneatha's character knows a lot about her African past. Mom is very proud of her African heritage and believes it is important. While directing the show Lena has the “noble bearing of the women of South West African heroes, but she is totally ignorant of her African background and doesn't even care much about it” (Cheney 59). Asagai Beneatha's acquaintance talks a lot about his African background and believes deeply in his culture and heritage. He comes from Nigeria, where there is a lot of poverty. A Raisin in the Sun is a quiet celebration of the black family, the importance of African roots, the equality of women, the vulnerability of marriage, the true value of money, the survival of the individual and poverty. the nature of man's dreams (Cheney 55). Africa is an important part of the play because it brings out good and funny elements in the Younger family, such as Walter screaming "Hot Damn!" "Blazing Spear!" while Beneatha comes out in her Nigerian clothes (Cheney 60). Africa becomes a symbol of heritage and a problematic but hopeful future (Cheney 56). With the help of Paul Robeson, WEB Dubois and Frederick Douglass he created the play A Raisin in the Sun. Paul Robeson was a famous baritone singer. It inspired her to write A Raisin in the Sun. She loved her voice and the songs she sang. Hansberry learned from him “…the way most blacks lived and the dangers of being an artist” (Cheney 45-46). WEB Dubois was an original thinker and sociologist. Hansberry “…gained admiration for black intellectuals, socialism, and black leadership” (Cheney 40). Frederick Douglass was another writer. Hansberry learned about slavery and its psychology. He also learned an "invaluable lesson that the suffering of a people can be presented truthfully in ways that go beyond propaganda to the level of art" (Cheney 36-37).