Lorraine Hansberry
(1930 to 1965) was an African-American playwright, essayist, poet and activist. Her best-known work, "A Raisin in the Sun," was brought to Broadway in 1959, making her the first black woman to have a play produced there.
Early Life
Born the youngest of four children, Lorraine grew up in Chicago with her wealthy family. Her father, Carl Hansberry, was a real estate broker, while her mother hosted parties attended by such notables as Langston Hughes and Joe Lewis.
Activism
Hansberry's first brush with activism came when her father purchased a home in an all-white Chicago neighborhood when she was 8. A law stated blacks couldn't own homes in that area, but her father took it to court and successfully fought the law.
A Raisin in the Sun
With its title taken from the line of a poem by Langston Hughes, "A Raisin in the Sun" tells the story of a poor black family who receives a check for $10,000. The play follows them as they attempt to come to terms with decisions made because of the money.
Awards
"A Raisin in the Sun" won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1959. In 1961, the play became a film starring Sidney Poitier and won a special award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Life Cut Short
On January 12, 1965, at the age of 34, Hansberry lost her two year battle with pancreatic cancer.
