- Her play, "A Raisin in the Sun", was the first successful Broadway play ever written by a black female playwright.
- Her father Carl A. Hansberry, Sr. (30 Apr 1895 - 7 Mar 1946), won the 1940 US Supreme Court case "Hansberry vs. Lee" which involved the enforcement of racially restrictive housing covenants. The family's experience with segregation was an inspiration for the play, A Raisin in the Sun.
- Her uncle William Leo Hansberry (25 Feb 1894 - 3 Nov 1965) founded the African Studies program at Howard University. There is a lecture hall on campus named in his honor.
- In 1951, she and a delegation of women presented the governor of Mississippi with a petition with almost one million signatures in support of Willie McGee who was awaiting execution for an alleged rape. Their attempt was unsuccessful and McGee got executed.
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1960 Tony Award as author of Best Play nominee "A Raisin in the Sun."
- Parents Carl and Nannie were lawyers, ward leaders, writers & poets.
- Her play, "A Raisin in the Sun" at the TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2014 Joseph Jefferson Equity Award for Midsize Play Production.
- First cousin of director and writer Shauneille Perry.
- Grand-aunt of actress Taye Hansberry.
- Her brother Paul fought in General Patton's army.
- After dropping out of college she moved to New York to join the staff of the newspaper Freedom which was co-founded by family friend Paul Robeson.
- Studied art and stage design at the University of Wisconsin. She dropped out after two years.
- Husband Robert Nemiroff was a songwriter.
- Sister of Mamie Hansberry.
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