Author Background

Lorraine Hansberry was an influential American playwright and writer, best known for her groundbreaking play A Raisin in the Sun.  Lorraine Vivian Hansberry was born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the youngest of four children and grew up in a racially segregated neighborhood. Her parents, Carl Augustus Hansberry and Nannie Louise Hansberry, were both active in civil rights and social justice causes.

The College Years

Hansberry attended public schools in Chicago and later enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, becoming the first African American female student to live in a dormitory. She later transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago and studied painting. Hansberry became involved in various social and political causes during her college years. She joined the Youth Council of the NAACP and worked as a writer and editor for the campus newspaper.

Personal Life

Hansberry married Robert Nemiroff, a Jewish songwriter and political activist, in 1953. They divorced in 1962 but remained close friends. Hansberry was involved in various civil rights and feminist causes, advocating for equality and justice throughout her life.  Lorraine Hansberry passed away on January 12, 1965, at the young age of 34. Her untimely death was the result of pancreatic cancer.

 Writing Career

Hansberry’s most famous work, A Raisin in the Sun, debuted on Broadway in 1959 and became the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. The play tells the story of a Black family in Chicago grappling with issues of racial segregation, dreams, and identity. It received critical acclaim and established Hansberry as a prominent playwright.

In addition to A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry wrote other plays, essays, and articles. Some of her notable works include The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window and To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a collection of her plays, letters, and other writings published posthumously.

Hansberry’s work explored themes of racial and social inequality, African American identity, and the pursuit of dreams. She contributed to the development of African American theater and had a significant impact on the civil rights movement. Her writings continue to be studied, performed, and celebrated for their insights into the African American experience.

Background on A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun in 1959, during a time of significant social and political change in the United States. The play reflects the experiences and aspirations of African Americans during the era of the Civil Rights Movement and explores themes of racial discrimination, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

The play’s title is taken from the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes, which asks, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” This imagery of a withered dream sets the tone for the play and captures the frustration and yearning of its characters.

A Raisin in the Sun tells the story of the Younger family, a working-class African American family living in a small apartment in Chicago’s South Side. The family’s matriarch, Lena Younger, receives a life insurance check following her husband’s death. The play explores how the family members have different dreams and aspirations for the money and how those dreams clash and intertwine.

The play addresses several important themes, including the impact of racial discrimination and segregation on African American families, the challenges and sacrifices involved in pursuing dreams, the tension between assimilation and cultural heritage, and the importance of family and unity in the face of adversity.

A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. Its success and critical acclaim marked a significant milestone in American theater and helped pave the way for the inclusion of more diverse voices and stories on stage.

The play has been adapted into other forms, including a film version released in 1961 starring Sidney Poitier and a television adaptation in 2008 featuring Phylicia Rashad. It has also been revived numerous times in theaters worldwide.

A Raisin in the Sun continues to be studied, performed, and celebrated for its powerful portrayal of the African American experience and its exploration of universal themes of dreams, identity, and social justice. It remains a seminal work of American literature and an important part of the theatrical canon.

You can create an account, borrow, and read the full text of A Raisin in the Sun for free here:

https://archive.org/details/raisininsun00houg_0/mode/2up

You can also view Harvard Black CAST’s Fall 2015 production of A Raisin in the Sun here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGPH2fLfwfE

The following discussion questions can help facilitate thoughtful conversations and deeper analysis of A Raisin in the Sun. Remember to encourage participants to provide evidence from the play to support their responses and engage in respectful and inclusive discussions.

Sources

Colbert, Soyica Diggs. Radical Vision: A Biography of Lorraine Hansberry. Yale UP, 2021.

Hansberry, Lorraine.  A Raisin in the Sun.  Vintage, 2004,

Hansberry, Lorraine.  A Raisin in the Sun. Internet Archive, uploaded by Tracey Gutierres, 8 Jan. 2013, https://archive.org/details/raisininsun00houg_0/mode/2up

Leeson, Richard.  Lorraine Hansberry: A Research and Production Sourcebook.  Greenwood, 1997.

Schaeder, Catherine.  Lorraine Hansberry: Playwright and Voice of Justice.  Enslow, 1998.

“A Raisin in the Sun.”  YouTube, uploaded by Harvard Black CAST, 28 Nov. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGPH2fLfwfE