No. 52: Lorraine Hansberry
Episode Transcript
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They say that behind every great work of art lies a story—one filled with struggle, brilliance, and audacity. What if I told you the story behind A Raisin in the Sun was written by a woman who, at just 29, became the first Black female playwright to have a play performed on Broadway? And that's just the beginning of her legacy. This is the story of Lorraine Hansberry—an icon who challenged not just theater, but the very fabric of American society.
Welcome back to 100 Historic Black Women You Should Know By Election Day. I’m Shae, a PhD Candidate at Harvard, and today, I’m excited to take you on a journey through the extraordinary life of Lorraine Hansberry.
Born in 1930 in Chicago, Lorraine Hansberry grew up in a world where segregation was the norm, but her family dared to push back. In 1938, her father fought a landmark legal battle when the family moved into a predominantly white neighborhood, leading to Hansberry v. Lee, a pivotal case that eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court. This fight for justice would deeply influence Lorraine’s future work.
Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but her heart was always in the arts and activism. She moved to New York City, where she found her voice, both as a writer and a committed social justice advocate. At just 29, Hansberry made history with A Raisin in the Sun, the first play on Broadway to be written by a Black woman. The play told the story of a Black family’s struggle for dignity and a better life in a racially segregated world. But her genius wasn’t just in the story she told—it was in how she told it, refusing to compromise on the complex, humanized experiences of Black people, long ignored by mainstream theater.
Hansberry was far more than a playwright; she was a radical thinker, deeply engaged with global movements for racial, economic, and gender justice. Hansberry challenged the patriarchy within the Civil Rights Movement, questioning the limited roles available to women in the struggle for equality. Her writing and activism inspired an entire generation, including James Baldwin and Nina Simone.
In addition to her activism, Hansberry contributed to Freedom, a Black progressive newspaper founded by Paul Robeson, where she addressed issues of colonialism, class struggle, and racism. Her body of work—including unfinished writings discovered after her untimely death from cancer at just 34—reveals a mind always at the edge of revolutionary thought.
Here’s something you might not know: Lorraine Hansberry was the inspiration for Nina Simone's song To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a powerful anthem that has continued to uplift generations of young Black people striving to live out their full potential.
Lorraine Hansberry’s legacy endures—not just through her work on stage but in her relentless pursuit of justice across every aspect of life. If you want more stories of incredible Black women like Lorraine, don’t forget to rate this podcast 5 stars. It helps others discover these beautiful histories. Also, be sure to follow me on social media @shaethehistorian and subscribe to my YouTube channel, where we dive deeper into these extraordinary lives.
