About

She was born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in a racially segregated neighborhood. Hansberry's parents were prominent activists in the civil rights movement, and their experiences greatly influenced her work. Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she became politically active and wrote for the campus newspaper. After graduation, she moved to New York City and worked as a writer and editor for various publications. In 1959, she achieved great success with the Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun", becoming the first African American woman to have a play performed on Broadway. "A Raisin in the Sun" explored the experiences of a black family living in a South Side Chicago neighborhood, facing racism, poverty, and the challenges of achieving the American Dream. The play received critical acclaim and brought issues of race and equality to the forefront of American theater. Aside from "A Raisin in the Sun", Hansberry wrote several other plays, including "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" and "Les Blancs". She also worked on screenplays and was involved in the civil rights movement, campaigning for desegregation and social justice. Tragically, Hansberry's life was cut short when she died of pancreatic cancer on January 12, 1965, at the age of 34. However, her legacy as a playwright and activist lives on, and her works continue to be celebrated for their powerful exploration of race, identity, and the human experience. Hansberry's contributions to American theater and her commitment to social change make her an important figure in 20th-century literature and civil rights history.