аÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

 

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Lorraine Hansberry

She was best known for her play “A Raisin in the Sun,” which highlighted the lives of black Americans in Chicago living under racial segregation. Lorraine Hansberry was an African-American playwright, writer and activist who lived from 1930 to 1965. Hansberry was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in a family that was deeply involved in the civil rights movement. Her father, Carl Hansberry was an activist who fought against racial discrimination in housing. Her mother, Nannie Hansberry, was a schoolteacher and a member of the NAACP.

Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison but left before completing her degree to pursue a career as a writer. Her other works include the plays “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” and “Les Blancs,” as well as several essays and articles on civil rights and social justice issues. She was also an active participant in the civil rights movement, and her writings and speeches inspired many people to take action against racial inequality and injustice. This article is about the top 10 interesting facts about Lorraine Hansberry.

 

1. Lorraine Hansberry was Born into an Activist Family

Lorraine Hansberry was born in 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, into a family of civil rights activists. Her father, Carl Hansberry, was a successful real estate broker and a prominent figure in the African American community, who fought against racial segregation and discrimination. He even took his battle against racially restrictive housing covenants to the Supreme Court, winning a major victory in the landmark case Hansberry v. Lee. Lorraine’s mother, Nannie Hansberry, was also active in the struggle for civil rights.

The family’s home was frequently visited by prominent African American leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Paul Robeson. Lorraine herself became involved in the civil rights movement at a young age, participating in protests and joining organizations like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Lorraine’s experiences growing up in this environment informed her writing, which often dealt with issues of race, class, and identity.

For some facts about W.E.B Du Bois CLICK HERE

2. The first African American woman to have a show produced on Broadway

In 1959, Hansberry made history as the first African American woman to have a show produced on Broadway—A Raisin in the Sun. As a playwright. Her play premiered on Broadway in 1959 and made history by being the first Broadway production written by an African American woman. The play was a critical and commercial success. It went on to inspire generations of playwrights and performers. Hansberry’s work broke barriers and paved the way for more diverse voices to be heard on the Broadway stage. Her most famous play, “A Raisin in the Sun,” is an exploration of the challenges faced by a black family in Chicago as they struggle to achieve the American Dream in the face of systemic racism and poverty.

The original Broadway production of  A Raisin in the Sun was directed by Lloyd Richards and starred Sidney Poitier as Walter Lee Younger, the head of the household. Since its original production, “A Raisin in the Sun” has been revived on Broadway several times, most recently in 2014 with Denzel Washington as Walter Lee Younger. The play has also been adapted into a film and has become a classic of American literature and theatre.

3. Lorraine Hansberry Dropped out of University

Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison in the late 1940s, but she left before completing her degree. She moved to New York City and became involved in the arts scene, working as a writer and editor for various publications. Despite not finishing college, Hansberry went on to achieve great success as a playwright and activist. “A Raisin in the Sun,” her most famous work, debuted on Broadway in 1959 and was the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. Hansberry was also a prominent civil rights activist, and her writing and activism helped to shape the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. Hansberry may not have finished college, but she went on to make significant contributions to American culture and society through her art and activism.

4.  The Youngest New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play in 1959

In 1959, Hansberry was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play for “A Raisin in the Sun,” making her the first black playwright and the youngest playwright to win the award at the time. The play was also nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play, and it has since become a classic of American theatre. Hansberry’s contributions to American theatre and literature have had a lasting impact, and her work continues to be studied and performed today.  The New York Drama Critics Circle Award (NYDCC) is an annual award given by an organization composed of theatre critics who review plays and musicals in New York City. The award is given for excellence in the field of theatre, with categories including Best Play, Best Musical, Best Foreign Play, and Best Revival. The NYDCC was founded in 1935, and its first awards were given in 1936. The awards are considered one of the most prestigious in American theatre and winners are often considered to be among the best productions of the year.

5. She was a Member of the Congress of Racial Equality

She was also a civil rights activist and a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). In fact, she was an active participant in the civil rights movement and used her talents as a writer and playwright to shed light on issues of race, gender and class in America. Hansberry joined CORE in the late 1950s and became involved in various civil rights campaigns, including the fight against housing discrimination in Chicago. Her experiences with discrimination and activism served as inspiration for her most famous work, the play “A Raisin in the Sun,” . Hansberry’s work and activism were instrumental in advancing the cause of civil rights in America, and she remains an important figure in the history of the movement.

35 Greatest Irish Authors.

6. She was a Civil Right Activist and a Feminist

She was both a civil rights activist and a feminist deeply involved in the civil rights movement in the United States and her writing often dealt with issues of race and inequality. In addition to her activism around civil rights, Hansberry was also a feminist and an advocate for women’s rights. She was a member of the National Organization for Women and wrote about women’s issues in her personal journals and in her writing. Hansberry was particularly interested in the intersections between race, class, and gender, and she believed that these issues were all interconnected. Hansberry’s work as a writer and activist was groundbreaking in its exploration of the experiences of African American women.

Important Feminists you should know. Read all About It.

7.  It is Alleged that Lorraine Hansberry was Gay

She wrote about her experiences as a lesbian in her unpublished journals and letters. Lorraine Hansberry, a celebrated African American playwright and writer, was not openly gay during her lifetime. However, many scholars and historians believe that she may have been a closeted lesbian. There are several pieces of evidence that suggest Hansberry’s same-sex attraction.   She wrote about her love for women and her struggles with her sexuality in personal papers published posthumously. She also had several close relationships with women throughout her life, including a long-term relationship with a woman named Una Mulzac. Additionally, Hansberry was known to be a champion of civil rights and social justice, and she was involved in several LGBTQ+ organizations and causes during her lifetime. She spoke out against discrimination and prejudice in all forms, including homophobia and transphobia.

8. A Raisin in the Sun is her Seminal Work

 

“A Raisin in the Sun” is a seminal work by Lorraine Hansberry. It is a play that debuted on Broadway in 1959 and was the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. The play is considered a classic of American theatre and explores themes of race, class, and the American Dream. The play tells the story of the Younger family, an African American family living in a small apartment in Chicago’s South Side. The family members each have their own aspirations and dreams, but they struggle to achieve them due to the systemic racism and poverty they face. The play’s title is taken from a line in Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem,” which asks, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” The play explores the consequences of deferred dreams and the challenges of pursuing them in a society that is stacked against you. “A Raisin in the Sun” is an important work in the canon of American literature and a powerful commentary on the Black experience in mid-twentieth century America.

 

9. Lorraine Hansberry was the Niece of Leo Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry was the niece of Leo Hansberry, who was a Pan-Africanist scholar and college professor. Her father, Carl Augustus Hansberry was Leo’s brother. Leo Hansberry was a prominent figure in the Pan-Africanist movement, and he founded the African Civilization section at Howard University, where he was a professor of African history. The African-American historian and scholar who is best known for his research on African history and culture.

He was one of the pioneers of African Studies in the United States and his work played an important role in challenging the prevailing Eurocentric views of African history and culture. He then spent several years travelling and studying in Africa, including Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Lorraine Hansberry was deeply influenced by her uncle’s activism and scholarship, and her work often reflected her own commitment to social justice and civil rights for African Americans.

Book Recommendation: 10 Best Books to Read About African History.

10. Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2013, Hansberry was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, in recognition of her contributions to American culture and civil rights activism. She was a trailblazer in the civil rights movement and an advocate for social justice. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honour in the United States, awarded by the President to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of the country, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.

Unfortunately, Lorraine Hansberry passed away in 1965, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom was not established until 1969. However, in 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her contributions to the arts and the civil rights movement. In his remarks, President Obama noted that “Lorraine Hansberry refused to be confined by any identity but her own, and helped blaze a trail for generations of Americans who have been inspired by her example.”