The Strength of Characters in A Raisin in the SunIn A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry paints an impressive group portrait of the Youngers, a family made up of powerful characters who are yet in many ways typical in their dreams and frustrations. There is Léna, or Maman, the widowed mother; his daughter Beneatha, a medical student; Beneatha's brother Walter, a struggling driver; and Walter's wife, Ruth, and their young son. Crowded into an airless apartment, the family dreams of better days. The character Beneatha knows a lot about her African past. Mom is very proud of her African heritage and believes in its importance. When the play is staged, Lena has “the noble appearance of the wives of South West African heroes, but she is completely unaware of her African past and does not care much about it either” (Cheney 59). Asagai Beneatha's acquaintance talks a lot about her African past and believes deeply in her culture and heritage. He comes from Nigeria, where there is great 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 individual and the nature of man's dreams (Cheney 55). Africa is a big part of the play because it brings out good and humorous elements in the Younger family, such as Walter shouting "Hot Damn!" “Flaming Spear!” as Beneatha comes out in her Nigerian dresses (Cheney 60). Africa becomes a symbol of heritage and a difficult but hopeful future (Cheney 56). With the help of Paul Robeson, WEB Dubois and Frederick Douglass, she created the play A Raisin in the Sun. Paul Robeson was a famous baritone singer. He inspired her to write A Raisin in the Sun. She loved his voice and the songs he sang. Hansberry learned from him "...the way most black people lived and the dangers of being an artist" (Cheney 45-46). WEB Dubois was an original thinker and sociologist. Hansberry “…gained admiration for the black intellectual, socialism, and black leadership” (Cheney 40). Frederick Douglass was another writer. Hansberry discovered slavery and its psychology. She also learned an "...invaluable lesson that the sufferings of a people can be presented truthfully in a way that goes beyond propaganda and rises to the level of art" (Cheney 36-37).