Due to the times and my circumstance, watching “A Raisin in the Sun” had a powerful influence on me. It was one of the first films, that I can remember and could understand, that clearly examined and articulated the pain and profound frustration of the African experience in America. The film’s influence on me was life changing. Because of the power of their performances, the actors in this film, Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ruby Dee, Ivan Dixon and Lou Gossett, Jr. helped shape my vision for my life