1. A Raisin in the Sun By Lorraine Hansberry Completed in 1957 First performance opened on Broadway in 1959

2. Lorraine Hansberry Dates: May 19, 1930 - January 12, 1965 Dates: May 19, 1930 - January 12, 1965 Occupation: writer, playwright Occupation: writer, playwright Best known for her play, A Raisin in the Sun, the first play by an African American woman produced on Broadway. Best known for her play, A Raisin in the Sun, the first play by an African American woman produced on Broadway.

3. Background, Family Father: Carl A. Hansberry Father: Carl A. Hansberry Mother: Nanny Perry Hansberry Mother: Nanny Perry Hansberry fourth of four children fourth of four children lived in Chicago until college lived in Chicago until college

4. Education University of Wisconsin, 1948-50 University of Wisconsin, 1948-50 Roosevelt College Roosevelt College School of Art Institute School of Art Institute New School for Social Research New School for Social Research

5. Marriage, Children husband: Robert Nemiroff (married 1953, divorced 1964) husband: Robert Nemiroff (married 1953, divorced 1964) She met Robert Nemiroff on a picket line, and they were married in 1953, spending the night before their wedding protesting the execution of the Rosenbergs (American communists who were executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage. The charges related to passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. This was the first execution of civilians for espionage in United States history). She met Robert Nemiroff on a picket line, and they were married in 1953, spending the night before their wedding protesting the execution of the Rosenbergs (American communists who were executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage. The charges related to passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. This was the first execution of civilians for espionage in United States history). children: none children: none

6. Plays A Raisin in the Sun (1959); screenplay 1960 (adapted as a musical, Raisin, in 1974) A Raisin in the Sun (1959); screenplay 1960 (adapted as a musical, Raisin, in 1974) The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (1964) The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (1964) To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words (adaptation of Hansberry's writings by Robert Nemiroff) (1969) To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words (adaptation of Hansberry's writings by Robert Nemiroff) (1969) Les Blancs (completed and edited by Robert Nemiroff) (1970) Les Blancs (completed and edited by Robert Nemiroff) (1970) The Drinking Gourd (television script) (published 1972) The Drinking Gourd (television script) (published 1972) What Use Are Flowers? (television script) (published 1972) What Use Are Flowers? (television script) (published 1972) Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays of Lorraine Hansberry (completed and edited by Robert Nemiroff) (1972) Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays of Lorraine Hansberry (completed and edited by Robert Nemiroff) (1972)

7. Awards New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 1959, for A Raisin in the Sun New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 1959, for A Raisin in the Sun Cannes Film Festival special award, 1961, for A Raisin in the Sun (screenplay) Cannes Film Festival special award, 1961, for A Raisin in the Sun (screenplay)

8. Political Activism Parents were active in the black community in Chicago. Parents were active in the black community in Chicago. Family moved into a white neighborhood with a restrictive covenant (only white people could live in the home) in 1938. Family moved into a white neighborhood with a restrictive covenant (only white people could live in the home) in 1938. The family did not move until the court ordered them to do so. The court case made it all the way to the Supreme Court as Hansberry vs. Lee. The SC ruled that restrictive covenants were illegal (of course, cities all around the US did not stop the enforcement of restrictive covenants). The family did not move until the court ordered them to do so. The court case made it all the way to the Supreme Court as Hansberry vs. Lee. The SC ruled that restrictive covenants were illegal (of course, cities all around the US did not stop the enforcement of restrictive covenants).

9. The Drinking Gourd Lorraine Hansberry was commissioned to write a television drama on slavery, which she completed as The Drinking Gourd, but it was not produced -- NBC executives apparently didn't support the idea of a black screenwriter writing about slavery. Lorraine Hansberry was commissioned to write a television drama on slavery, which she completed as The Drinking Gourd, but it was not produced -- NBC executives apparently didn't support the idea of a black screenwriter writing about slavery.

10. A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry completed her first play in 1957 taking her title from Langston Hughes’ poem, “Harlem.” Lorraine Hansberry completed her first play in 1957 taking her title from Langston Hughes’ poem, “Harlem.” What happens to a dream deferred? What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– And then run? And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over– like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?.

11. The American Dream What is the American dream? What is the American dream? What is your dream? What is your dream? What are a few things you have to do in order to achieve your dream? What are a few things you have to do in order to achieve your dream? What are the potential obstacles you may encounter as you try to achieve your dream. What are the potential obstacles you may encounter as you try to achieve your dream.

12. A Raisin in the Sun Objectives discover the universal elements in A Raisin in the Sun. discover the universal elements in A Raisin in the Sun. describe African American life in the urban ghetto. describe African American life in the urban ghetto. Note how people in literature or life respond to the frustration of their dreams. Note how people in literature or life respond to the frustration of their dreams. Observe interaction among family members as it is revealed in dramatic literature. Observe interaction among family members as it is revealed in dramatic literature.

13. The Project in the Southside of Chicago in the 1950s

14. Chicago Southside

15. Success! The play, with themes both universally human and specifically about racial discrimination and sexist attitudes, was successful, and a screenplay soon followed in which Lorraine Hansberry added more scenes to the story – none of which Columbia Pictures allowed into the film. The play, with themes both universally human and specifically about racial discrimination and sexist attitudes, was successful, and a screenplay soon followed in which Lorraine Hansberry added more scenes to the story – none of which Columbia Pictures allowed into the film.

16. Post Raisin Moving with her husband to Croton-on- Hudson, Lorraine Hansberry continued not only her writing but also her involvement with civil rights and other political protest, even after being diagnosed with cancer. Moving with her husband to Croton-on- Hudson, Lorraine Hansberry continued not only her writing but also her involvement with civil rights and other political protest, even after being diagnosed with cancer. She divorced Nemiroff in 1964 but they still worked together. She divorced Nemiroff in 1964 but they still worked together.

17. The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window In October, 1964, Lorraine Hansberry moved back into New York City as her new play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window began rehearsals. Although critical reception was cool, supporters kept it running until Lorraine Hansberry's death in January, 1965. In October, 1964, Lorraine Hansberry moved back into New York City as her new play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window began rehearsals. Although critical reception was cool, supporters kept it running until Lorraine Hansberry's death in January, 1965.

18. Les Blancs After her death, her ex-husband finished her work on a play centered on Africa, Les Blancs. This play opened in 1970 and ran for only 47 performances. After her death, her ex-husband finished her work on a play centered on Africa, Les Blancs. This play opened in 1970 and ran for only 47 performances.

19. The End

20. What is your dream? What is your dream? Write a well-developed essay (500 words), in which you discuss your American dream. Consider and include the potential obstacles that you may encounter as you try to achieve your dream. What is your dream? Write a well-developed essay (500 words), in which you discuss your American dream. Consider and include the potential obstacles that you may encounter as you try to achieve your dream. FCAs FCAs 1. Content- Topic is developed through personal experience. (15) 2. 3 obstacles are introduced and discussed. (15) 3. Word choice is appropriate to audience. (5) Essay must be typed (12 font/double-spaced) or written in ink (every other line/ one-side only/loose- leaf paper). Include a word count at the end of the essay. Essay must be typed (12 font/double-spaced) or written in ink (every other line/ one-side only/loose- leaf paper). Include a word count at the end of the essay.