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Lorraine Hansberry is born on May 19 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Her family moves into a white neighborhood in Chicago, facing violent racist opposition, which leads to a legal battle.
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The Supreme Court case Hansberry v. Lee rules in favor of her family, challenging racially restrictive housing covenants.
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Hansberry enrolls at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studies painting, writing, and theater.
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She leaves college after two years and moves to New York City to pursue a career in writing.
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She begins working for Freedom, a progressive Black newspaper founded by Paul Robeson.
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She travels to Mexico and becomes involved in discussions on politics and literature.
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Hansberry marries Robert Nemiroff, a Jewish songwriter and activist, they eventually separate but remain close collaborators.
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She writes the first draft of A Raisin in the Sun, inspired by her family's experiences with housing discrimination.
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The play is refined through workshops and gains attention from producers interested in bringing it to Broadway.
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A Raisin in the Sun premieres on Broadway, making her the first Black woman to have a play produced there.
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The play wins the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and Hansberry becomes the youngest and first Black playwright to receive the honor.
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She delivers a speech at a civil rights event, joining figures like James Baldwin and Malcolm X in advocating for racial justice.
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Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she continues to write and work on new projects despite her declining health.
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Lorraine Hansberry dies on January 12 at the age of 34, leaving behind unfinished works and a lasting legacy in literature and activism.