Lorraine Hansberry was an African American playwright, who continues to inspire future works of literature, and theater for years to come. Born in 1930, Lorraine was raised in a middle-class household on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. From a young age, she witnessed her father, Carl Augustus Hansberry, become a successful businessman. Her father founded Lake Street Bank, one of the first banks for Black people in Chicago, along with running a flourishing real estate business. Lorraine's uncle, Leo, was also a respected scholar of African studies at Howard University. Hansberry was constantly surrounded by Black excellence with visits from DuBois to Duke Ellington. Lorraine embraced her Black culture from a young age, and her identity drove her urgency to highlight and defend the Black community for the rest of her life.
No different than the majority, Hansberry faced segregation in the '30s. Her family was subjected to reside in a specific place for Black families known as the "Black Belt." However, the Hansberry's fought for their right to own property. With little Lorraine at just 8 years old, her family secretly bought property in a predominantly white neighborhood in protest.
This courageous act, unfortunately, caused the Hansberry family to be attacked by the white mob, undergoing property damage.
The Illinois Supreme Court forced the family out of their home, but once again the Hansberrys fought to keep their home by taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled against the state's decision and the property was returned to the Hansberry family. The Hansberry family established a precedent for future racially restrictive covenants. Hansberry's upbringing inspired her to constantly fight for others, and amplify Black voices.
As Lorraine grew up, she found interest in theater, painting, and of course, writing. In 1950, Hansberry decided to start her writing career in the city that never sleeps, New York City. She landed a job as a writer for a progressive publication called Freedom. This allowed her to network with both literary and political mentors. Eventually, she met her husband Robert Nemiroff, who showed similar political views. As her husband's musical career took off, Hansberry was able to quit her job and focus on her own personal writing. This is when she began her famous work, A Raisin in the Sun, formerly known as The Crystal Stair.
A Raisin in the Sun is a playwright that provided an insightful look at the Black working class. Hansberry stated how she drew inspiration from her childhood neighborhood and even her own family members.
This renowned play was the first-ever play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway.
Her second play, The Sign in Sidney Brunstein's Window, also ran on Broadway. It was about a Jewish intellectual, stemming from her husband's culture. The play stayed running on Broadway right up until she passed away from cancer in 1965 at age 34.
Hansberry's ex-husband continued to edit and publish all three of her unfinished plays called Les Blancs, What Use Are Flowers?, and The Drinking Gourd. He also compiled a collection of unfinished works, along with journal entries, to create an autobiography of Lorraine called To Be Young, Gifted, and Black. Hansberry used her works of literature to convey the resilience and integrity of Black individuals. Lorraine Hansberry undoubtedly changed the way the Black community was perceived in theater for future generations.
“Though it be a thrilling and marvelous thing to be merely young and gifted in such times, it is doubtedly so - doubly dynamic - to be young, gifted, and black."
- Lorraine Hansberry
Writer: Angelica Vivas
Editor: Leah Tovar
Sources:
Comentarios