"In this first scholarly biography of Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), the author of A Raisin in the Sun, theater professor Soyica Colbert considers the playwright's life at the intersection of art and politics, with the theater operating as a 'rehearsal room for [her] political and intellectual work.' Colbert argues that the success of Raisin overshadows Hansberry's other contributions, including the writer's innovative journalism and lesser known...

"Quiara Alegria Hudes was the sharp-eyed girl on the stairs while her family danced in her grandmother's tight South Philly kitchen, "frizzy hair cut short, bangs teased into stiff clouds, sweat glistening in the summer fog, pamper-butt babies weaving between legs." Quiara was awed by her aunts and uncles and cousins, but haunted by the secrets of the family and the unspoken stories of the barrio -- even as she tried to find her own voice in the sea...

This documentary sheds valuable light on all aspects of Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun, including the daunting challenge of securing investment and a venue for this production about a working class Black family, the casting process, artistic debates and finally its public reception. The film features interviews with the play's original cast members, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Glynn Turman, director Lloyd Richards,...

"Quiara Alegr̕a Hudes era la nįa de ojos penetrantes que permanec̕a resguardada en las escaleras de la casa de su abuela en el norte de Filadelfia mientras observaba a su familia bailar en su estrecha cocina. Le maravillaban sus t̕as, t̕os y primos, pero viv̕a aterrada por los secretos de la familia y las historias ocultas del barrio--todo esto mientras intentaba encontrar su propia voz entre el mar de lenguajes que la rodeaban, tanto en el...