Lorraine Vivian Hansberry (May 19, 1930 – January 12, 1965) was a playwright and writer. She was the first African-American female author to have a play performed on Broadway. Her best known work, the play A Raisin in the Sun, highlights the lives of Black Americans living under racial segregation in Chicago. The title of the play was taken from the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes: "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" At the age of 29, she won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award — making her the first African-American dramatist, the fifth woman, and the youngest playwright to do so. Hansberry's family had struggled against segregation, challenging a restrictive covenant in the 1940 US Supreme Court case Hansberry v. Lee.
After she moved to New York City, Hansberry worked at the Pan-Africanist newspaper Freedom, where she worked with other intellectuals such as Paul Robeson and W. E. B. Du Bois. Much of her work during this time concerned the African struggles for liberation and their impact on the world. Hansberry's writings also discussed her lesbianism and the oppression of homosexuality. She died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 34. Hansberry inspired the Nina Simone song, "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", whose title-line came from Hansberry's autobiographical play.
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Some of their strengths
Lorraine Hansberry has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Strong, Artistic, Altruistic, Intense, Passionate, Intuitive, and Ambitious.
Strong and Diligent
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Lorraine Hansberry is someone who is a strong, diligent, and trustworthy person who approaches life with honesty and perseverance, but who is also physical, sensual, and artistic. A person who is known for being a good partner.
Helpful and Supportive
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Lorraine Hansberry well know them as someone who can be accepting, supportive, and productive, like a garden.
Ambitious and Forceful
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Lorraine Hansberry as someone who is ambitious, hard-working, determined, and intelligent.
A person who has a knack for identifying opportunities, has amazing concentration and focus, who can work independently, who likes starting new things, and who is somewhat of an intellectual.
Courageous and Strong
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Lorraine Hansberry is someone who is a risk-taker and a pioneer who only gets stronger through the hardships that are encountered in life.
They are also someone who is creative, expressive, and insightful, and who has a pioneering spirit with self-determination and natural artistic expression.
Patient and Compassionate
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Lorraine Hansberry tends to be someone who approaches life with grace and compassion, and who has a powerful and commanding personality. Who can be analytical, patient, and deliberate, avoiding risks and seeking out stability instead.
Some of Lorraine Hansberry's challenges
While Lorraine Hansberry has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Lorraine Hansberry can be Stubborn, Idle, Rebellious, Emotionally Distant, Complicated, Brusque, and Relentless.
Stubborn and Idle
One of Lorraine Hansberry's key challenges is that they are someone who can be seen as stubborn and, at times, lazy.
Lorraine Hansberry must also exercise caution as they can have a hard time reconciling wants and needs.
Relentless and Inflexible
Lorraine Hansberry is someone who can be relentless, obsessive, and inflexible, who can be confrontational with work colleagues, can have difficulty communicating feelings and be somewhat reclusive, and who can be self-destructive, overindulgent, and extravagant.
Materialistic and Aggressive
Finally, Lorraine Hansberry also can be materialistic, emotional, aggressive, stubborn, inconsistent, and be prone to big temper outbursts.