Lorraine Hansberry

Start Free Trial

Lorraine Hansberry Biography

Lorraine Hansberry’s most well-known play, A Raisin in the Sun, is based on her own experience as a young black woman living in a white neighborhood. It was not a pleasant time. In fact, Hansberry’s family was involved in a famous discrimination lawsuit, that was eventually seen before the Supreme Court: Hansberry v. Lee, in 1940. Her family fought against a covenant that tried to keep African American families from buying houses. They won the lawsuit, but their time in the neighborhood, and Hansberry’s experiences at her predominantly white high school were, in her words, “hellishly hostile.” A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. She was also the first African American and the youngest person to win the New York Drama Critics Award.

Facts and Trivia

  • Hansberry died at the young age of 34 of pancreatic cancer. Her play The Sign in Sid Brustein’s Window closed its Broadway run the night she died.
  • The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco stages original African American plays and revivals.
  • The famous singer Nina Simone wrote a civil rights song called “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” based on Hansberry’s unfinished play of the same title.
  • Hansberry was able to devote herself to writing full-time when her husband, Robert Nemiroff, wrote the hit song “Cindy, Oh Cindy.”
  • Hansberry's brother, William Leo Hansberry, founded the African Civilization section to Howard University's history department.
  • Hansberry was commissioned in 1959 to write something for the National Broadcasting Company. She submitted her play The Drinking Gourd, but it was considered too controversial to be aired on television.
  • On the night before her wedding, she and her husband protested the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

Biography

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Lorraine Hansberry's Legacy: Lorraine Hansberry, a trailblazing playwright and activist, was the first African American woman to garner the prestigious New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. Her works spotlighted racial and social issues while resonating with universal themes of identity and perseverance. Despite her untimely death, Hansberry's influence continues to inspire generations.

Formative Years

Lorraine Vivian Hansberry came into the world on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, as the youngest of four children in a prosperous family. Her two older brothers, Carl, Jr., and Perry, along with her sister Mamie, seven years her senior, formed the family unit. Her father, Carl Augustus Hansberry, emerged from a background rooted in education and law enforcement to become a successful real estate entrepreneur, earning the moniker "Kitchenette Landlord" for his housing ventures.

Nannie Hansberry, Lorraine's mother, born to a bishop and educated at Tennessee State University, was a teacher and Republican Party ward committeeman. Although the Hansberrys enjoyed financial security during the Depression, their race subjected them to societal prejudices and segregation. Lorraine received her early education at Betsy Ross Grammar School, an overcrowded institution within a racially segregated neighborhood.

Her father, an ardent nationalist and NAACP member, provided a rich literary environment that included works from prominent black writers. Regular visitors to the Hansberry home included influential figures like W. E. B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes, who exposed Lorraine to significant cultural and intellectual ideas.

Education and Early Influences

By ten, Lorraine had absorbed the contents of her father's extensive library, developing an awareness beyond her years. Her uncle, William Leo Hansberry, a professor and pioneer in African studies, left an indelible mark on her, enlightening her about Africa's historical empires and the impact of colonialism. She discerned connections between the oppression of Africans and African Americans, insights that later permeated her creative work.

At eight, Lorraine witnessed her father's legal battle against housing segregation after purchasing a home in a white neighborhood. Despite winning the landmark Hansberry v. Lee case in 1940, the family faced racial hostility and violence. This formative experience deeply influenced Lorraine's perspective, later echoing in her celebrated play, A Raisin in the Sun.

Lorraine graduated from Englewood High School in 1948, opting to attend the University of Wisconsin. Her decision to enroll in a predominantly white institution, rather than follow her sister to Howard University, suggested a broader worldview, valuing diversity in education.

New Aspirations in Academia

During her three years at the University of Wisconsin, Lorraine pursued courses like physical geography and fine arts, channeling her concern for racial issues into her artwork. A pivotal moment occurred when she watched a production of Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock, which resonated with her and sparked a passion for theater.

Simultaneously, Lorraine engaged in political activism, supporting Henry Wallace's campaign and advocating for racial equality. Her growing interest in black culture and history eventually led her to leave Wisconsin and head for New York in 1950.

Breaking into Journalism

In New York, Lorraine continued her education at the New School for Social Research, venturing into journalism. She landed a job at Freedom magazine, led by Paul Robeson, where she contributed articles on Pan-African and black issues, asserting her voice in the realms of art, politics, and women's rights.

Her journalistic endeavors included thought-provoking articles such as “Child Labor Is Society’s Crime Against Youth” and “Ghana Moves to Freedom.” Lorraine fearlessly participated in protests, demonstrating against racial injustice and advocating for civil rights.

Personal and Creative Evolution

In 1951, Lorraine met Robert Nemiroff, a kindred spirit in social consciousness and the arts, whom she...

(This entire section contains 889 words.)

Unlock this Study Guide Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

married in 1953. The couple faced initial struggles, but Lorraine's writing career flourished after Nemiroff's song "Cindy, Oh Cindy" became a hit in 1956. This newfound stability allowed Lorraine to focus on her writing full-time.

Her most celebrated work, A Raisin in the Sun, emerged from this period. Set in a Chicago ghetto, it tells the story of a black family striving to improve their lives, reflecting themes of dreams, identity, and resilience. The play, rooted in personal experiences, earned Lorraine historic recognition and accolades.

Theater and Advocacy

A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway in 1959, receiving critical acclaim and winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. Its success opened doors for Hollywood adaptations and spurred further creative pursuits for Lorraine.

Even as her health declined, Lorraine remained prolific, completing numerous plays and essays addressing racism, feminism, and global issues. Her works, including The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window and Les Blancs, continued to challenge societal norms and advocate for change.

Legacy and Impact

Despite her passing from pancreatic cancer in 1965, Lorraine Hansberry's legacy endures. Her former husband, Robert Nemiroff, ensured her unfinished works, like To Be Young, Gifted, and Black and Les Blancs, found audiences posthumously.

Lorraine's life and writings remain influential, championing social justice, equality, and human rights. As Martin Luther King, Jr. noted in his eulogy, her contributions inspire "generations yet unborn," a testament to her enduring impact on literature and society.

Further Reading

For those interested in delving deeper into Lorraine Hansberry's life and works, consider: "Hansberry’s Drama: Commitment Amid Complexity" by Steven R. Carter, "Lorraine Hansberry" by Anne Cheney, and "Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays of Lorraine Hansberry," edited by Robert Nemiroff. These works provide insights into her remarkable journey and the influences that shaped her enduring legacy.

Next

Critical Essays

Loading...