Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun' opens, the first Broadway play written by a Black woman.
At a Glance
- Date
- 11 March 1959
- Location
- New York, New York
- Key people
- Lorraine Hansberry
- Category
- Arts & Literature
- Source
- Broadway production records (1959) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
It brought an unvarnished portrait of a Black family's aspirations to the American stage.
What It Means Now
The play is a staple of theater and a landmark of Black drama.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “'A Raisin in the Sun' Opens on Broadway.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/a-raisin-in-the-sun-opens-on-broadway/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). 'A Raisin in the Sun' Opens on Broadway. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/a-raisin-in-the-sun-opens-on-broadway/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “'A Raisin in the Sun' Opens on Broadway.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/a-raisin-in-the-sun-opens-on-broadway/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.