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half_book_and_co's review against another edition
5.0
I want to start this review with a simple statement: This might be one of the best biographies I have read to date. I don't throw around this sentence lightly but from start to finish I was engrossed in Imani Perry's "Looking for Lorraine. The Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry".
Based on archival material (some of which has only been available since 2010), Hansberry's published writing, and loads of contextual matter, Perry paints a portrait of the playwright (best known for "Raisin in the Sun"), critic, and activist Lorraine Hansberry which allows for a deeper understanding of the person Hansberry, her work, and artistic and political movements she was aligned to. Perry peels back layer after layer while also being transparent about what we cannot know and what might be even unethical to speculate. She hones in on Hansberry's queerness, discussing its importance in regards to her understanding of herself, her politics, her relationships and very deeply her writing too. I loved how Perry understands it to situate Hansberry in a wider context, describe important networks (like Hansberry's friendship with Nina Simone and James Baldwin), and offer interesting analyses of Hanberry's creative Oeuvre. This book portrays Lorraine Hansberry as the complex woman she was - grown up somehow middle-class and then turning wholeheartedly to Communism, a staunch feminist who engaged with the writing of Simone de Beauviour but often centred male characters in her own writing, a lesbian who was part of Daughters of Billitis and who married a white Jewish communist. Through the meticulous reconstruction of Hansberry's life and thoughts, one also gains insights into leftist debates, the Civil Rights Movement, lesbian and queer publishing, and anti-colonial politics of the 1950s and 1960s. Written in assured prose this is a wonderful tribute to Lorraine Hansberry.
Based on archival material (some of which has only been available since 2010), Hansberry's published writing, and loads of contextual matter, Perry paints a portrait of the playwright (best known for "Raisin in the Sun"), critic, and activist Lorraine Hansberry which allows for a deeper understanding of the person Hansberry, her work, and artistic and political movements she was aligned to. Perry peels back layer after layer while also being transparent about what we cannot know and what might be even unethical to speculate. She hones in on Hansberry's queerness, discussing its importance in regards to her understanding of herself, her politics, her relationships and very deeply her writing too. I loved how Perry understands it to situate Hansberry in a wider context, describe important networks (like Hansberry's friendship with Nina Simone and James Baldwin), and offer interesting analyses of Hanberry's creative Oeuvre. This book portrays Lorraine Hansberry as the complex woman she was - grown up somehow middle-class and then turning wholeheartedly to Communism, a staunch feminist who engaged with the writing of Simone de Beauviour but often centred male characters in her own writing, a lesbian who was part of Daughters of Billitis and who married a white Jewish communist. Through the meticulous reconstruction of Hansberry's life and thoughts, one also gains insights into leftist debates, the Civil Rights Movement, lesbian and queer publishing, and anti-colonial politics of the 1950s and 1960s. Written in assured prose this is a wonderful tribute to Lorraine Hansberry.
lunabbly's review against another edition
5.0
I never learned about Loraaine Hansberry in school and A Raisin in the Sun wasn't required reading. I enjoyed, relished, and have truly taken a lot of pleasure in reading this biography. It was lovely reading about her, her charisma, and also how she pushed everyone, institutions, and systems to be more radical.
I especially enjoyed learning about her relationships with James Baldwin and Nina Simone and how Imani Perry drew their narratives, interwove them, and told the honest truth about their relationships. Knowing how they were intellectual partners and found solidarity and partnership with one another is important context and I'm glad Perry did not shy away from writing about it. And especially in writing about it in a non-sensationalist way either since Baldwin and Simone's names are almost household names and Lorraine Hansberry isn't quite.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the movement leading up to the 60s and 70s and how Hansberry shaped so much of the politics and revolutionary thought.
I especially enjoyed learning about her relationships with James Baldwin and Nina Simone and how Imani Perry drew their narratives, interwove them, and told the honest truth about their relationships. Knowing how they were intellectual partners and found solidarity and partnership with one another is important context and I'm glad Perry did not shy away from writing about it. And especially in writing about it in a non-sensationalist way either since Baldwin and Simone's names are almost household names and Lorraine Hansberry isn't quite.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the movement leading up to the 60s and 70s and how Hansberry shaped so much of the politics and revolutionary thought.
tlaynejones's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
ts7's review against another edition
I wish I was taught this about Lorraine Hansberry’s life and the nuances in her work when I was in high school.
danamantooth's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
deservingporcupine's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning portrait of Ms. Hansberry. There is so much I didn’t know about her life, and learning it through Imani Perry’s poetic prose gave me new insights not just about Raisin, but also about America. Beautiful, heartbreaking and I highly recommend.