Hansberry v. Lee, inspiration for A Raisin In The Sun

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Hansberry's sister and grand niece discuss the Supreme Court ruling

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11.13.1940

Hansberry v. Lee Case is Decided​

On this date in 1940, the Supreme Court ruled in Hansberry v. Lee, which rules that whites cannot bar Blacks from white neighborhoods.

Three years earlier (1937), Carl A. Hansberry, a Black businessman and the father of Lorraine Hansberry, defied the Chicago Woodlawn Property Owners' Association by successfully negotiating the purchase of a building at 6140 Rhodes Avenue. At about the same time, Harry H. Pace, a prominent Black attorney and president of the Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company, purchased a building just east of South Park Way on Sixtieth Street. Anna M. Lee, a White signatory of the restrictive covenant, filed suit against Hansberry and Pace for $100,000.


When the circuit court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs for equity, the defendants carried their fight to the Supreme Court of Illinois, which also upheld the legality of the restrictive covenant by a vote of six to one, and ordered the confiscation of Hansberry's property.


The Supreme Court of the United States reversed the decision on this date in 1940 but did not hold that restrictive covenants are void. It ruled for Hansberry on a legal technicality that an agreement between two property owners respecting the number of signatories to the restrictive covenant agreement is fraudulent. The attorney for Hansberry was Earl B. dikkerson.

 

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*Statue is currently traveling the country



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Tour and Programming​

The statue was unveiled June 9, 2022 in NYC’s Times Square and had installations at the following locations in New York City:

• Times Square Theater District
• The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem
• Brooklyn Bridge Park

In addition to the NYC installations, a national tour is scheduled for the sculpture and will be augmented by public arts programming. The tour will have initial stops in major cities across the country, such as Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and more, with the intention that additional cities will be added. As the birthplace of Hansberry and setting of A Raisin in the Sun, Chicago will enjoy an enhanced and permanent installation.
Public performances and programs at each location will engage local residents, schools, and employ local artists.

Upcoming Installations​

Detroit​

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History | Wednesday, July 27 – Tuesday, August 9
In partnership with The Wright and Detroit Public Theatre.

Minneapolis​

Pillsbury House Theatre | Monday, August 15 – Tuesday, September 20
In partnership with Pillsbury House Theatre.

Washington, DC​

Atlanta​

Los Angeles​

Seattle​

San Francisco​

Chicago​

 

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[invalid]

Didn't know Lorraine's sister is still alive. For years, I always thought the Hanberry's integrated Hyde Park, not Woodlawn. Woodlawn today has been subject to neglect and disinvestment. It's where the infamous "O Block" projects are located. So you would not think that it was the neighborhood where all of this occured.

That Harry Pace podcast was especially insightful because I didn't know the particulars before that or that he was even involved. I knew Earl dikkerson, who was one of his business partners at Supreme Life, argued this case before the Supreme Court.

Just shows you how far we can go, when we have black capital (Supreme Life) backing the judicial process (Hansberry Case), and how it can effect legislation (striking down the restrictive covenants).

 

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@ab.aspectus

Wow, it's crazy that modern day "O Block" is the same section being discussed. Sad stuff that, unfortunately mirrors the trajectory of sections of cities across the country. For the reasons you pointed out.

In terms of the legal fights, I think many in modern era take things for granted. They were born into the modern society, and assume things have always been the way they are. Not aware of previous laws and informal rules that blocked freedoms and access to Black citizens. And consequently not aware of how those laws/rules were dismantled.

Lot of rhetoric posted across different subforums comes from people whose parents/mentors never sat them down and explained it to them. Or who were never inclined to read it for themselves.