Remember Lorraine Hansberry. She lived right here. From 1953 to 1960, Hansberry resided in the third-floor apartment of this building at 337 Bleecker Street.
This unassuming residence is now known as the Lorraine Hansberry Residence. It holds national significance. It is linked to the pioneering Black lesbian playwright, writer, and activist Lorraine Hansberry.
While living here, Hansberry created her most important works. Imagine her in her third-floor apartment. It was here that she wrote her groundbreaking play A Raisin in the Sun. In 1957, she first read it aloud to her friend Philip Rose right here. He went on to produce it.
Hansberry made history in March 1959. She became the first Black woman to have a play staged on Broadway with Raisin’s premiere. The Ethel Barrymore Theater in Manhattan showcased her talent. During these years, she also achieved another milestone. Hansberry became the first African American playwright and the youngest playwright to win the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play.
Her apartment became a symbol of her success. One month after the play’s premiere, Vogue Magazine photographed Hansberry in her book-lined apartment on Bleecker Street. A Raisin in the Sun is now considered a classic. It is part of the established literary canon and is taught in schools throughout the United States.
But the Lorraine Hansberry Residence represents even more. It played an important role in breaking barriers. These barriers challenged traditional views of race, class, sex, and sexuality. Hansberry dedicated herself to social justice. She worked alongside civil rights activists like James Baldwin and Nina Simone.
She contributed to various publications. They focused on racial justice, communism, women’s equality, and LGB causes. Many of these articles were written in her apartment at 337 Bleecker Street.
Even before the success of A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry privately explored her lesbian identity. She found community in her small lesbian social circle in Greenwich Village. She had at least two relationships with women who lived close to her Bleecker Street apartment.
Hansberry was vocal about civil rights and other issues. Yet, she remained private about her sexuality. Instead, she chose to participate in LGB issues anonymously through her writing. She did this both before and after she achieved literary fame.
The Lorraine Hansberry Residence stands as a testament to her legacy. In April 2021, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This recognition acknowledges its significance in American history. It also acknowledges Hansberry’s contributions to literature, activism, and social change.
So, as you stand here, remember Lorraine Hansberry. Remember her words, her courage, and her unwavering commitment to justice. This building is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of a life lived with purpose and passion. It is a place where history was made. It is a place where a dream took flight.