Lorraine Hansberry was born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the youngest of four children in her family. Her father, Carl Augustus Hansberry, was a successful real estate broker, and her mother, Nannie Louise, was a schoolteacher. Hansberry grew up in a middle-class African-American family in a predominantly white neighborhood.
At the age of 18, Hansberry became involved in politics when she worked on Henry A. Wallace's presidential campaign. She was a passionate advocate for civil rights and social justice. In 1950, she moved to New York City to attend the New School for Social Research. She was also a student at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, where she studied painting.
Hansberry's most famous work, "A Raisin in the Sun," premiered on Broadway in 1959. The play tells the story of a struggling African-American family living in Chicago and explores themes of race, poverty, and discrimination. It was the first play by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway.
In 2013, Lorraine Hansberry was posthumously inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Her pioneering work continues to inspire playwrights and activists around the world. She paved the way for future generations of African-American writers to share their stories and perspectives on stage.
Hansberry was married to Robert Nemiroff from 1953 to 1962. She was known for her wit, intelligence, and fierce dedication to social justice. She died tragically young, at the age of 34, from pancreatic cancer.
In 2004, a Broadway revival of "A Raisin in the Sun" featured rapper and actor P. Diddy in the lead role of Walter Lee. The play continues to be performed and studied in theaters and classrooms across the country, cementing Hansberry's legacy as a groundbreaking playwright and activist.
Related links