Lorraine Vivian Hansberry was born into an active black elite family in Chicago’s South Side. Her father had a real estate business, and he made history in his efforts to break racial discrimination in Chicago’s white-only neighborhoods. Lorraine developed her political awareness at home and her interest in theater at high school. She spent two years studying art at the University of Wisconsin, but left it for New York to practice writing when she was 20 years old. She wrote and edited for the newspaper Freedom.
As a passionate activist for civil rights, she participated in many protests. In one protest she met Robert Nemiroff, a Jewish writer, and the two later married. The couple shared their political views and even spent the night before their wedding protesting. Her husband supported her work and her decision to quit her job and devote herself to writing.
At 29, she had her first play, “A Raisin in the Sun”, produced on Broadway. It was the story of a black family from Chicago, became a hit, and was celebrated as the first dignified representation of black people on a mainstream stage. The play ran for a year, with 530 performances, and later was made into a film. It was translated into 35 languages and re-staged on Broadway twice.
Hansberry died at 34 from cancer. Her funeral in Harlem was attended by 700 mourners, among them was Langston Hughes, who read a poem. She and Nemiroff divorced before her death, but he remained dedicated to her work and published three of her unfinished plays.
Lorraine Hansberry, Activist and Playwright | Biography
Discover the life of Lorraine Hansberry, who reported on civil rights for Paul Robeson's newspaper Freedom and later penned "A Raisin in the Sun". Learn about her personal life, accomplishments, and untimely death at age 34. #Biography
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Biography
Season 1
Biography features in-depth profiles of the exceptional people whose lives and times stir our imagination. An Emmy award-winning documentary series, Biography thrives on rich details, fascinating portraits and historical accuracy, seasoned with insider insights and observations.
bio.® believes that the truth is more entertaining than fiction. True stories matter more to us because they happen to real people. We dig deep to find the most gripping, surprising and amazing stories. Whether it's a biopic, documentary, talk show or non-fiction series, BIO. delivers an honest portrayal of stories that will leave you amazed. BIO. True Story.
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Fun Facts
- In 1960 she wrote lists of what she liked and hated. Among the “likes”, and the “hates” was her homosexuality. The list is available online.
- At her time, same-sex relationships were illegal in New York, and she never officially “come out”. She published – with only initials - articles about lesbian rights in the magazine The Ladder.
- On the list of New York's Historic Sites, is the Lorraine Hansberry Residence - a building that she bought with money earned from her play. There she began a relationship with one of the tenants - Dorothy Secules.
- Nina Simone’s famous song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" was written in her memory and performed at her funeral.
Awards
- The youngest playwright and the first African-American playwright to win the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for the best play of the year
- Chicago Literary Hall of Fame (2010)
- American Theater Hall of Fame (2013)
- National Women's Hall of Fame (2017)
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Lorraine Hansberry, Activist and Playwright | Biography
Discover the life of Lorraine Hansberry, who reported on civil rights for Paul Robeson's newspaper Freedom and later penned "A Raisin in the Sun". Learn about her personal life, accomplishments, and untimely death at age 34. #BiographySubscribe for more Biography: http://aetv.us/2AsWMPH
Dive deeper into Biography on our site:
http://www.biography.com
Learn more about Gene Wilder:
https://www.biography.com/people/gene-wilder-17191558
Follow Biography for more surprising stories from fascinating lives:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Biography
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/biography
Twitter - https://twitter.com/biography
Biography
Season 1
Biography features in-depth profiles of the exceptional people whose lives and times stir our imagination. An Emmy award-winning documentary series, Biography thrives on rich details, fascinating portraits and historical accuracy, seasoned with insider insights and observations.
bio.® believes that the truth is more entertaining than fiction. True stories matter more to us because they happen to real people. We dig deep to find the most gripping, surprising and amazing stories. Whether it's a biopic, documentary, talk show or non-fiction series, BIO. delivers an honest portrayal of stories that will leave you amazed. BIO. True Story.
This post is also available in:
Español