Play Guide A RAISIN IN THE SUN //
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SEPTEMBER 1 - 12, 2021
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS P L AY G U I D E A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S :
C O M P I L E D A N D E D I T E D BY:
D E S I G N E D BY:
Elizabeth Kensek Natalie King Olivia Duncan
Emily Holt emilyfightscrime.com
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T WAT E RT OW E RT H E AT R E .O RG O R C A L L 972 . 4 5 0. 62 32
A RAISIN IN THE SUN //
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BEHIND THE SHOW A B O U T T H E P L AY W R I G H T
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LO R R A I N E H A N S B E R R Y ’ S L I F E
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P LO T S U M M A RY : S P O I L E R WA R N I N G !
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G LO S S A R Y O F T E R M I N O LO GY
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING 1959 IN A NUTSHELL
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W H AT I S R E D L I N I N G ?
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING
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About the playwright LORRAINE HANSBERRY Lorraine Hansberry was a playwright, author, and activist. Her best-known work is A Raisin in the Sun, the title of which was borrowed from the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes. At the age of 29, she won the New York Drama Critic’s Circle Award — making her the first African-American dramatist, the fifth woman, and the youngest playwright to do so. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she immediately became politically active with the Communist Party USA and integrated a dormitory. Hansberry’s classmate Bob Teague remembered her as “the only girl I knew who could whip together a fresh picket sign with her own hands, at a moment’s notice, for any cause or occasion”. In 1951 she began writing for the Pan-Africanist newspaper “Freedom” and when she moved to Harlem, she became involved in activist struggles such as the fight against evictions. In June 1953 Hansberry married Jewish publisher, song writer, and political activist Robert Nemiroff. Although the couple separated in 1957 and divorced in 1962, their professional relationship lasted until Hansberry’s death in 1965. Before her marriage, she wrote about her attraction to women in her personal notebooks. Near the end of her life, she came out publicly and created a community for herself amongst other queer people and had several relationships with other women. Hansberry’s life and work as an activist have inspired many including Nina Simone who wrote the song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black”, which is also the title of Hansberry’s autobiographical play.
Writer and playwright Lorraine Hansberry poses for a portrait in her apartment in 1959 in New York City. Photo by David Attie/Getty Images
A RAISIN IN THE SUN //
timeline of
Lorraine Hansberry’s Life: 1930
Born May 19 in Chicago, IL to Carl Sr. and Nannie Hansberry
1940
Carl Sr., along with help from the NAACP, wins his Supreme Court case Hansberry vs. Lee - this case about housing discrimination will become the framework for A Raisin in the Sun
1946
When Lorraine is 16 years old, Carl Sr. passes away in Mexico while planning to move his family there to avoid American racism
1948
Is admitted to and attends The University of Wisconsin where she becomes the chairperson of the Young Progressives
1950
Decides not to return to The University of Wisconsin and moves to NYC where she takes a job at Paul Robeson’s Freedom magazine
1951
Joins a delegation of women in Jackson, Mississippi to stop the execution of Willie McGee, a Black man accused of rape
1952
Becomes the associate editor of Freedom; travels to Uruguay to attend the Intercontinental Peace Conference in Paul Robeson’s stead because his passport has been revoked by HUAC - as a result, Lorraine’s passport is then revoked; meets future husband Robert Nemiroff
1953
Marries Robert Nemiroff on June 20 and moves to Greenwich Village. Teaches black literature at Jefferson School of Social Science
1954
Writes script for Harlem rally “Pules of the Peoples: A Cultural Salute to Paul Robeson”
1956
Nemiroff’s song “Cindy, Oh Cindy” becomes a hit, enabling Hansberry to quit her several jobs and focus on writing full time; she begins work on “The Crystal Stair” which will become A Raisin in the Sun
1957
Completes A Raisin in the Sun which becomes backed by Philip Rose, directed by Lloyd Richards and will star Sidney Poitier; begins writing anonymous letters to The Ladder, a lesbian publication
1959
After opening in New Haven, Philadelphia and Chicago to rave reviews, A Raisin in the Sun moves to the Ethel Barrymore on March 11, becoming the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. Raisin wins the New York Critics Circle Award - also a Black female first. Becomes friends with writer James Baldwin
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1960
Columbia Pictures secures the rights to a screen adaptation which Hansberry writes and is forced to edit after her draft is much more controversial than the stage version; She is commissioned then by NBC to write The Drinking Gourd, which is never produced; begins work on what will become The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window and Les Blancs.
1961
A Raisin in the Sun is nominated for a SAG Award for best screenplay; receives an award at the Cannes Film Festival
1962
Works with SNCC; speaks out against the Cuban Missile Crisis and HUAC; completes What Use are Flowers? which is never produced
1963
Joins several other artists and activists including James Baldwin, Rip Torn, Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne at a meeting with Attorney General Bobby Kennedy where he refuses to ask his brother, President John F. Kennedy to intervene in the desegregation of Southern schools; is diagnosed with cancer in April
1964
Hansberry and Nemiroff quietly and amicably divorce; Delivers the “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” speech to the winners of the United Negro College Fund writing competition; Publishes “The Movement: Documentary of a Struggle for Equality”, leaving all proceeds to SNCC; The Sign in Sidney Brustien’s Window opens at the Longacre Theatre to mixed reviews
1965
On January 12, the same day as closing of Sidney Brustein, Lorraine Hansberry dies at age 34.
1967
“Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words” a WBAI radio tribute is broadcast in NY, LA and San Francisco
1969
To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a play about Hansberry’s life opens at the Cherry Lane Theatre
1970
Les Blancs opens at the Longacre Theatre
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Plot Summary of A Raisin in the Sun: A Raisin in the Sun tells the story of a black family’s experiences in south Chicago, as they attempt to improve their financial situation. Walter and Ruth Younger, their son Travis, as well as Walter’s mother Lena and sister Beneatha all live together in a two-bedroom apartment in Chicago’s south side. When Walter and Beneatha’s father dies, their mother Lena receives a welfare check that could completely change the family’s circumstances. Walter wants to use the money to invest in a liquor store along with his two friends, Willy and Bobo. Lena has religious objections to alcohol and puts some of the money down on a new house. She chooses an all-white neighborhood for the practical reason that it is cheaper. Eventually Lena relents and gives Walter a portion of the check asking that he use $3,000 towards Beneatha’s education. Walter gives all the money to his friend Willy to invest but Willy takes it for himself. Meanwhile, Karl Lindner, a white representative of the neighborhood they plan to move to, makes an offer to buy the family out. He wishes to avoid tension in the neighborhood over an interracial community. Walter is prepared to accept the offer as a solution to their financial setback but Lena refuses on the grounds that they should never take money if it was a person’s way of telling them they aren’t welcome. Meanwhile, Beneatha's direction in life is influenced by two different men: her wealthy and educated boyfriend George Murchison, and Joseph Asagai. George represents the "fully assimilated Black man" who denies his African heritage while dismissively mocking Walter's situation. Joseph, a Yoruba student from Nigeria, patiently teaches Beneatha about her African heritage. Beneatha eventually accepts Joseph’s point of view along with his proposal of marriage. The two plan to move to Nigeria together where Beneatha can practice medicine. At the end of the play Walter redeems himself by not accepting the buyout offer, stating that his family is proud of who they are. The family leaves for their new home with an uncertain future.
FUN FACT: Lorraine Hansberry said that the character of Beneatha Younger was based on her younger self.
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Glossary of Unfamiliar Terms: A-Bomb:
Yoruba:
Throughout the 1950’s, the American government was developing and testing the atomic bomb in the Nevada desert.
An African ethnic group living mainly in NIgeria and Benin which is the largest ethnic group in Africa.
Colonel McCormick:
Refers to the biblical story found in John chapter 4 wherein Jesus meets a Samaritan woman. Her kettle is empty, and Jesus tells her if she believes, she will have “living water” or a spiritual life.
Robert Rutherford “Colonel” McCormick (July 30, 1880 – April 1, 1955) was a member of the McCormick family of Chicago who became a lawyer, Republican Chicago alderman, distinguished U.S. Army officer in World War I, and eventually owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune newspaper. A leading Republican and non-interventionist, McCormick opposed the increase in Federal power brought about by the New Deal and later opposed American entry into World War II Caps:
The ammo used in cap guns, most likely a roll of red paper which would be fed into the gun and produced a gunshot sound when fired. Herero Women:
The Herero Tribe is a civilization of cattle herders located in Namibia, a country in Southern Africa. The Tribe successfully revolted against the German imperialists at the turn of the century. The women of the Herero Tribe are known for their signature handmade Victorian Dresses. In addition to the dresses, women often wear headdresses that symbolize the importance of cattle farming for the success of the Herero economy and lifestyle.
“Empty as Jacob’s kettle”
Dinah Washington:
Known as the “Queen of the Blues” Dinah Washington was born Ruth Lee Jones in 1924. American singer and pianist, who has been cited as “the most popular black female recording artist of the ‘50s”. Popular recordings include “What a Difference a Day Makes” and “Unforgettable.” Harry Belafonte:
an American singer, songwriter, actor, and social activist. One of the most successful Jamaican-American pop stars in history, he was dubbed the “King of Calypso” for popularizing the Caribbean musical style (originating in Trinidad & Tobago) with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) is the first millionselling LP by a single artist. Paul Robeson:
An African American singer, actor, athlete, scholar and activist who was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement and Anti-Imperialism, gaining the attention of McCarthy Era congress and the HUAC, and was blacklisted in Hollywood and had his passport revoked from 19561958. Jomo Kenyatta:
a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to 1978. He was the country’s first black head of government and played a significant role in the transformation of Kenya from a colony of the British Empire into an independent republic.
A RAISIN IN THE SUN //
Chaka:
Garbo Routine:
Chaka, also known as Shaka, or Shaka Zulu, was an early nineteenth century African warrior-king who implemented warfare techniques and weaponry which have been studied and adopted by military leaders and personnel worldwide ever since Shaka’s time. Shaka Zulu incorporated into his own army the warriors from defeated tribes; he also established military towns in order to ensure that his armies were well provided for and excellently trained. Shaka Zulu initiated the idea of complex battle formations in order to outflank and confuse his enemies, not unlike those strategies used in football formations. In addition, Shaka Zulu revolutionized the existing Zulu weaponry by designing a short-handled stabbing spear, known as the “assegai.”
Refers to Greta Garbo, a famous actress from the 1920s and 30s, who was notoriously glamorous, moody, mysterious and dramatic.
Uncle Tom:
A derogatory term originating from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s titular character from her 1852 novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. An Uncle Tom is a Black person who is overeager to win the approval of Whites (as by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals) Ashanti Empire:
The Ashanti, originally a part of present-day Ghana, were people within the Ghana Empire whose ascendancy was based on the iron and gold found within this wealthy country. The Ashanti benefited from early firearm adoption. Combined with effective strategy, they fashioned an empire that stretched from central Ghana to the present-day Ivory Coast. Due to the empire’s military prowess, wealth, architecture, sophisticated hierarchy and culture, the Ashanti Kingdom has been extensively studied and has more historiographies by European, primarily British, authors than almost any other indigenous culture of Sub-Saharan Africa. Songhay Civilization:
a state that dominated western Sahel in the 15th and 16th century. At its peak, it was one of the largest states in African history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its leading ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai. Sonni Ali established Gao as the capital of the empire, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century. Other important cities in the empire were Timbuktu and Djenné, conquered in 1468 and 1475 respectively, where urban-centered trade flourished. Bantu:
a loosely defined categorization which includes other Bantoid languages, constitute a traditional branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages. Bantu languages are spoken largely east and south of present-day Cameroon, that is, in the regions commonly known as Central Africa, Southeast Africa, and Southern Africa.
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Conked Head:
A popular hairstyle for Black men from the 1920s - 1960s wherein the hair was cropped and relaxed with chemicals. Mrs. Miniver:
An Oscar-winning film (1942) which starred Greer Garson as Mrs. Miniver, an English middle-class housewife who appears in many scenes tending her roses. In the movie, despite the blitz bombs of Nazi Germany, Mrs. Miniver stands stalwart, the symbol of England’s hope and strength. Mr. Charley:
a pejorative expression used within the African-American community to refer to an imperious white man. The expression suggests that whites are generic or interchangeable Ocomogosiay:
A shout of triumph in battle. It is a coined word, combining syllables from the Yoruban, Zulu and Swahili languages. Owimoweh:
A variation of a Zulu word meaning lion
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WTT’s production is set in 1959 per director, Natalie King
Notable Events of 1959 Motown Records created by Berry Gordy
Alaska and Hawaii become the 49th and 50th states admitted into the Union.
U.S. recognizes Fidel Castro's Cuban government
A Raisin in the Sun opens on Broadway (March 11)
Twilight Zone premieres The Guggenheim Museum opens Dale R. Buis and Chester M. Ovnand become first U.S. troops killed in action in Vietnam
Miles Davis' seminal record Kind of Blue is released
Billie Holiday dies
Cost of Living in 1959: Median Income (National Average): $5,620
Cost of US Stamp: $0.04
Median Income (White Families): $5,835
Cost of a gallon of milk: $1.01
Median Income (Black Families): $3,230
Cost of a gallon of gas: $0.25
Average Cost of a New Home: $12,400
Unemployment Rate*: 5.5%
Average Cost of a New Car: $2,200
Buying Power of $1.00 USD (in 2017): $8.51
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What is Redlining The FHA explicitly practiced a policy of “redlining” when determining which neighborhoods to approve mortgages in. Redlining is the practice of denying or limiting financial services to certain neighborhoods based on racial or ethnic composition without regard to the residents’ qualifications or creditworthiness. The term “redlining” refers to the practice of using a red line on a map to delineate the area where financial institutions would not invest. – The Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston. Map of Redlining in Chicago:
Map of Redlining in Dallas:
Green areas were exclusively white, Anglo and Protestant. Blue areas were mostly white, but were other ethnic origins like Jews, Italians, and Irish, but still upwardly mobile. Yellow areas were a mix of ethnicities – including black – and poor. Redlined areas were almost exclusively black.
Hansberry v. Lee, 311 U.S. 32 (1940) The Supreme Court case that inspired the play
Lorraine Hansberry was born 19 May, 1930 to Nanny Perry and Carl Augustus Hansberry Sr., and was the youngest of four children. While others floundered during The Great Depression, Carl Sr. managed to provide for his family in Chicago with a few shrewd real estate investments. With money made from opening one of the few Black owned banks in Chicago, Mr. Hansberry was able to turn larger apartments into one room kitchenettes and build a pocket of wealth for his children. Still, because of racist redlining,
the middle-class Hansberry’s were relegated to Chicago's South Side. The Hansberry house was often visited by important Black intellectuals and activists including Lorraine's uncle, William Leo who was an African American studies professor at Howard University, W.E.B DuBois, Langston Hughes, Jesse Owens and Paul Robeson. In May 1937, Carl Sr. decided to move the house out of the Black Belt of Chicago and with the help of Harry H. Pace, president of the Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company and several white realtors, secretly bought property in a predominately White area of Chicago. The house, which was located at 413 E. 60th Street and 6140 S. Rhodes Avenue, was vandalized and terrorized by mobs of White neighbors
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who opposed the family's presence in the neighborhood. Lorraine would later describe the space as "to put it mildly, a very hostile neighborhood". This was highlighted by an incident wherein a mob of White folk threw a brick through the family's window, narrowly missing 8 year old Lorraine's head. When the family was served an injunction by The Kenwood Improvement Association for the Hansberry family to vacate their home which was granted by a Circuit Court judge, the appeal was then upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court. Carl Sr. challenged the ruling, which led to the landmark U. S. Supreme Court case Hansberry v. Lee. Following the court case and a failed run for Congress, Carl Sr. decided to move the family out of the country and went to Mexico to find a home but while there suffered a cranial hemorrhage and passed away before the Hansberry’s could join him. Lorraine was 15 when her father died and later said "American racism helped kill him."
Hansberry v. Lee N O. 2 9 A R G U E D O C TO B E R 2 5, 1 94 0 D E C I D E D N OV E M B E R 1 2 , 1 94 0 3 1 1 U.S. 3 2
Summary:
Majority Opinion:
An African-American man named Hansberry bought property from a person who had signed a restrictive covenant preventing property owners from selling land to African-Americans. Lee, one of its other signers, argued that the covenant should be enforced to enjoin the sale to Hansberry and that it was presumptively valid, based on an earlier case involving a class of landowners associated with the covenant. The document would be found valid only if 95 percent of the property owners signed it, and the trial court in the earlier case had made a finding of fact that the 95 percent requirement had been met. The Illinois Supreme Court found that it had not been met, but it still upheld the decision. Since the earlier case was a class action, the trial court ruled that the prior judgment would bind all members of the class, including the property owner who sold the land to Hansberry.
“The general rule is that all of the members of the class are bound by a final judgment in the class action, but this is only if they are adequately represented by members of a class who have a similar interest to them. Otherwise, due process requires them to receive notice and an opportunity to be heard. The defendant in this case did not have a similar interest to the landowners such that he could be considered to be part of the same class. In fact, his interests were diametrically opposed to those of the class members, since he was trying to buy land, while they were seeking to restrict its sale. This clash of interests generally indicates that representation by the class is inadequate. The earlier judgment thus would not be binding.” LEARNING MORE: THE HISTORY BEHIND H A N S B E R R Y V. L E E , B Y A L L E N R . K E M P
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Lea rn M ore with the se re source s:
Lorraine Hansberry’s FBI Files “The Black Revolution and the White Backlash” Audio and transcript of Hansberry’s June 15, 1964 speech The Guardian Sweet Lorraine A Challenge to Artists Transcript of Hansberry’s 1962 speech Lorraine Hansberry talks about A Raisin in the Sun on Studs Terkel Radio Show, 12 May 1959 - Audio Redlining Dallas Kirwan Institute Presentation Dallas Observer City Hall Exhibit Aims to Educate About Dallas Segregated Past and Present D Magazine Redlining Dallas Maps
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