Life of Lorraine Hansberry

1. To Be Young Gifted andTo Be Young Gifted and
BlackBlack
The Life of Lorraine HansberryThe Life of Lorraine Hansberry

2. ChildhoodChildhood
 Grew up in Chicago’sGrew up in Chicago’s
SouthsideSouthside
 Youngest of 4 childrenYoungest of 4 children
 Father – successfulFather – successful
businessmanbusinessman
 Relatively Wealth byRelatively Wealth by
neighborhood standardsneighborhood standards

3. Early ExperiencesEarly Experiences
 At 8 moved into a hostile white neighborhoodAt 8 moved into a hostile white neighborhood
 Her father in conjunction with the NAACPHer father in conjunction with the NAACP
was protesting against “restrictive covenants”was protesting against “restrictive covenants”
that segregated housing.that segregated housing.

4. EducationEducation
 Chicago public schoolsChicago public schools
for first through seniorfor first through senior
yearyear
 Showed an early talentShowed an early talent
for writing and drawingfor writing and drawing
 Later attendedLater attended
University of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin
and Art Institute of Newand Art Institute of New
YorkYork

5. A Raisin in the SunA Raisin in the Sun
 Instant success when it opened in 1959Instant success when it opened in 1959
 Marked the beginning of a vigorous black theaterMarked the beginning of a vigorous black theater
movementmovement
 Directed by Lloyd RichardsDirected by Lloyd Richards
 Cast included Sidney Poiter, Claudia McNeil, DianaCast included Sidney Poiter, Claudia McNeil, Diana
Sands, Ruby Dee, and Louis GossettSands, Ruby Dee, and Louis Gossett
 Translated into 30 languagesTranslated into 30 languages
 Won the New York Drama Critics Award (at 29 sheWon the New York Drama Critics Award (at 29 she
was the youngest person and first black playwright towas the youngest person and first black playwright to
ever win this award)ever win this award)

6. The Play ItselfThe Play Itself
 Written in tradition of theWritten in tradition of the
family play, focusing on thefamily play, focusing on the
most intense and basicmost intense and basic
human relationshipshuman relationships
 ResemblesResembles The GlassThe Glass
MenagerieMenagerie
 Both are about poor familiesBoth are about poor families
in desperate situations.in desperate situations.
 Both family members struggleBoth family members struggle
to realize a dream thatto realize a dream that
conflicts with the hopes andconflicts with the hopes and
dreams of other familydreams of other family
members.members.

7. Other Plays and Her DeathOther Plays and Her Death
 The Sign in SidneyThe Sign in Sidney
Brustein’s WindowBrustein’s Window
opened 3 weeks beforeopened 3 weeks before
she died.she died.
 Died of cancer at 34Died of cancer at 34
 To Be Young Gifted andTo Be Young Gifted and
BlackBlack (collection of(collection of
letters, journal entries,letters, journal entries,
speeches, and playspeeches, and play
excerpts) published inexcerpts) published in
19691969