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DOCUMENT RESUME CS 510 360 ED 442 171 Jennings, Caleen Sinnette AUTHOR "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black." Cue Sheet for Students. TITLE John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, INSTITUTION DC Department of Education, Washington, DC. SPONS AGENCY 1996-00-00 PUB DATE 10p.; Additional funding provided by The Kennedy Center NOTE Corporate Fund and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/cuesheet/theater.html. AVAILABLE FROM Guides - Classroom - Learner (051) PUB TYPE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Audiences; Black Culture; Black History; Black Leadership; DESCRIPTORS Class Activities; Cultural Activities; Elementary Secondary Education; Playwriting; Production Techniques; *Theater Arts; United States History *Drama in Education; *Hansberry (Lorraine) IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after a performance of "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black." The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains seven activity sheets for use in (1) To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (a theatrical collage class, addressing: based upon the life and work of the African-American playwright Lorraine Hansberry, featuring scenes from her most famous plays, as well as excerpts (2) Lorraine Hansberry: Her Life and Legacy from her speeches and letters); (offering biographical material about Hansberry's life and work); (3) The World of Lorraine Hansberry (looking at important people who influenced Hansberry, and at historical, economic, and social changes that took place during her lifetime and that she was part of); and (4) Before and After the Play (presenting ideas for discussion topics and class activities before and after attending the play). Resources for further exploration are listed. (SR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black." Cue Sheet for Students. by Ca leen Sinnette Jennings U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 P. p foi'-'Students WELCOME TCL*;COESHEET, one in of a series of performance guides published by the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the 4 Per-forming Arts, Washington, t D.C. This Cuesheet is designed to be used by teachers and 't students; before and after 008110 .-, attending a performance of To Be Young, Gifted, and Black. Students and teachers may read Cuesheet together. Small le14gigAIDIN groups of students-'may use - Cuesheet for collaborative tt? activities, and share their work with the_class. What's in Cuesheet? To Be Young, Gifted, and Black, pages 2-3 Lorraine Hansberry: Her Life and Legacy, pages 4-5 The World of Lorraine Hansberry, pages 6-7 Before and After the Play, page 8 111111111111111011-, . The,Kennedy Center. To Be Yetang, Gift and Black A Theatrical Collage Writer Jim Vogel used both the book and play is a theatrical To Be Young, Gifted, and Black collage based upon the life and work of the script of to To Be Young, Gifted, and Black African American playwright Lorraine create this adaptation. He notes: COLLAGEan artistic Hansberry. Troupe NY will present this hour- combination of varying "We have a cart of five instead of eight, In long adaptation featuring scenes from and different pieces to cutting the show down to one hour, I -try be Hansberry's most famous plays, as well as create a whole true to Hansberry's viewpoint and her rhythm. excerpts from her speeches and letters. The most striking thing about her was her composition Rather than having one actor play Hansberry, humanity. She was generous, courageous, and each actor in the multi-racial cast of five will outspoken. I want the audience to leave with her speak as Hansberry and play multiple roles. yoke ringing in their ears," Scene from the film A Raisin in the Sun, 1960. Pictured are (L. R) Ruby Dee, Claudia k MacNeil, Diana Sands, and Sidney Poitier. s*. .1! r*Irst .9* AVAILABLE BEST COPY LI McClain says she wanted white and black, Director Saundra McClain says her goal is to male and female actors to get a chance to per- keep the spirit of Hansberry alive in young form Hansberry's words: viewers: "Her work speaks to African Americans and all "The same things Hansberry protected are going on for human beings. She cared so much about black today. I want students to see her as a writer people, but in another real sense, color didn't today. She fulfilled her dreams in a short lifetime. matter to her at all, People mattered." I want students to be inspired by the fact that she didn't let anything hold her back," That Create The Whole Pieces The Drinking Gourd Robert Nemiroff, Hansberry's former hus- Hannibal, (commissioned 1959) band and executor of her literary estate, was Characters: Sarah, Zeb Dudley, Hiram Sweet, and the primary person responsible for the origi- Tommy. This drama written for television To Be Young, Gifted, and nal version of looks at the institution of slavery: the He states: Black. To Be Young, Gifted, relationships between master and slave, and Black also ",,.the words, experiences, characters, and cre freedom and bondage. includes a monologue ationc..,are her own. But it is also an adaptation, The Sign in Sidney from Sean O'Casey's a portrait rendered through The perspective of Juno and the Paycock. Brustein's Window (premiered another's eyes. And Therefore it takes a some 0"Casey (1880-1964) Iris, Sidney. Set in New Characters: 1964) what novel form: biography and autobiography, was a famous Irish York City's Greenwich Village, the play looks part fact, part fiction, an act of creation and playwright born in at how much an individual can sacrifice recreation utilizing firstperson materials as poverty and self- his/her personal, social, and political ideals. well as...autobiographical projections of herself educated. His plays All the Dark and Beautiful in her characters," deal with the violent Warrrors The first production of the play opened in (Unfinished, unpublished struggle for Irish Candace. The young Character: novel) New York City in January 1969. Nemiroff felt independence and student Candace, is based on Hansberry and strongly that Lorraine Hansberry's Voice feature realistic her experienCes with African students at the came through clearly in her characters. The settings and colorful University of Wisconsin. following synopses identify the characters characters and speech. and scenes shown in To Be Young, Gifted, Of What Use Are Flowers? and Black: (completed in 1962) This play was conceived A Raisin in the Sun as a fantasy fot television about the aftermath of nuclear war. Mama, Walter, (premiered 1959) Characters: Beheatha, and Rtith Younger, and Lindner. Les Blancs (written in 1963) This is a The Younger family struggles to make its play about leaders for African independence. dreams come true despite the despair,, danger, r ter; - Toussaint , ished) This;play is and frustration of life in the Chicago, gheito. (u out the Haitian leader. Lindner represents the forces of racism. CeVolutionary 5 BEST COPY AVAILABLE ensberry: Lorraine nd Le acy Her Life of the day who influenced her. Her father's Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago in sudden death shortly before Lorraine's 16th 1930. Her father was a well-respected busi- birthday left her even more isolated. When it nessman, landlord, and inventor. He was also a political activist with considerable knowl- was time for college, Hansberry selected the University of Wisconsin. edge of law. His shrewd business investments enabled his family to live comfortably even While at Wisconsin, Hansberry attended during the Great Depression. THE GREAT Sean O'Casey's drama Juno and The Paycock, DEPRESSION began on Hansberry's mother was a Ward about a lower middle class Irish family. October 29, 1929, Hansberry identified strongly with this play, Councilwoman and accountant. She was col- when the stock market its truthful family portrait, its universal lege educated, something rare for African- crashed. Great human issues, and its laughter and tears. She American women of that time. Both parents numbers of American instilled in their daughter a fierce sense of got more involved in theater, studying plays workers lost their pride and dignity in herself and her race. and set design and "...sort of hanging around savings and jobs. This They valued education and taught their chil- little acting groups...." economic crisis lasted dren to strive for the best. Her political activism grew as she was through the 1930s. As the youngest of four children, with a elected campus chairperson of the Young considerable age gap between herself and her Progressives of America. Outside of the siblings, Lorraine was often left out of activi- classroom she read about the independence movements in Africa. Although she had ties. She learned to observe from a distance and amuse herself. In school, she experienced learned much about life and had been stimu- an even greater degree of separation from her lated by much in the environment, by the end classmates because her family was better off of her sophomore year, Hansberry's academic financially than most of her schoolmates' performance was disappointing. She moved families. In fact, at the age of five, her class- to New York City in 1950. mates beat her up for wearing a brand new In New York, Hansberry began classes at white rabbit fur coat to school. The guts, the New School for Social Research. She determination, and compassion she displayed became the youngest member of the staff of in later years was evidenced in her early the monthly magazine published by Freedom, years, since she befriended the students who singer and social activist Paul Robeson. She beat her up and ruined her coat. Even at that wrote about Africa, women's issues, social young age, she understood the anger and issues in New York, and the arts. In 1952 she frustration of those who were the "have nots." met Robert Nemiroff, a graduate student of In high school, Hansberry continued to Russian Jewish descent, at New York feel like an outsider. During these years, she University. They married in 1953 and began a discovered Shakespeare and fell in love with life-long literary partnership. the theater. Hansberry's initial draft of her first and Visitors to the Hansberry home included was most famous play, A Raisin in the Sun, important writers, artists, and social activists completed in 1957. Within two years, it 6 challenged him to initiate and oversee needed changes in governmental atti- tudes and policies. Hansberry met and received recogni- tion from important civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. In 1963, Hansberry became seriously ill with cancer of the intestines. Although she obtained a divorce opened to popular and critical acclaim on from Robert Nemiroff in 1964, she continued to Broadway. Hansberry won the New York collaborate with him and named him executor of her literary estate. Drama Critics Circle Award. During the next The Sign in Sidney three years, she was commissioned to write Brustein's Window opened late in 1964 to for NBC Television. She mixed reviews, which generated financial prob- The Drinking Gourd lems. By this time, Hansberry was gravely ill Les Blancs, The Sign in Sidney worked on and several other plays. and hospitalized. Artists, colleagues, and Brustein's Window, for A Raisin in the Sun, friends launched a campaign to keep the play The film version of which she wrote the screenplay, won a Cannes running In 1965, Hansberry died in New York. Film Festival award in 1961. In 1962 she com- More than 600 people, including Malcolm X, Birmingham, Of What Use Are Flowers? attended her funeral in Harlem. They heard pleted her play Alabama,11963:. written messages from Dr. King and writer During the 1960s she became increasingly Cheering and singing, James Baldwin, along with speeches by Paul active in the Civil Rights movement. Along an estimated 2,01:41: Robeson and actress Ruby Dee. ,-?.. with writers such as James Baldwin, blacks march owt.he Hansberry became an outspoken supporter of Four years after Hansberry's death, Robert city jail. The demon4. organizations such as the Congress of Racial Nemiroff produced To Be Young, Gifted, and stration ended peace Equality (CORE) and the Student Non-Violent Nemiroff also produced fully with a prayer,'H., musi- Black. Raisin, a Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In a meeting cal version of her first play, which won a 1979 meeting in a field with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, she Tony award. near the jail. 7 ,7:,-.F1MINUM1144 %-:..1L,11.".. of The Wori Lorraine Hansberry Edward Burghardt Important Influences William (W.E.B.) Dubois 1868-1963 Lorraine Hansberry was influenced by sever- DuBois was a al important figures whose words and deeds frequent guest in the shaped her thinking and writing. Hansberry Toussaint L'Ouverture 1743- household. The first African American to 1803 L'Ouverture was an educated slave receive a Ph.D. from and fighter for Haitian COLD WARa Harvard University independence. Hansberry term used to in 1895, he was a deeply admired L'Ouverture describe the sociologist and as a fighter and brilliant struggle crusader for African American civil rights master of diplomacy and between and education. Hansberry admired Dr. politics, who terrified French Communist DuBois for his intellectualism, commitment to ruler Napoleon Bonaparte. nations and the $-%i socialism, and leadership abilities. Her ambition was to write a t'd democratic major work on him. Paul Robeson 1898-1976 nations that Frederick Douglass 1817- Robeson was a lawyer, singer, actor, and began after World War social activist of II. It was called the 1895 Douglass was a self-educated slave international acclaim. "Cold War" because it who became a brilliant orator, writer, Also a visitor to the did not lead to fighting abolitionist, and women's rights activist. Hansberry home, he on a wide scale. Hansberry kept his volumes of writings on published Freedom her desk and admired McCARTHYISM magazine, which was his commitment to Senator Joseph one of Hansberry's action and social McCarthy (1908.1957) earliest employers. In TO. change. From his attracted worldwide .r a 1954 cultural salute narratives she gained attention by charging to Robeson, she called him a "voice and knowledge about that Communists had champion of the people's struggle." slavery that she used infiltrated the U.S. in her play The Langston Hughes 1902-1967 government. He IMM1h. Drinking Gourd. Another frequent guest in the Hansberry conducted several home, Hughes was a poet, public hearings, some playwright, and short story of which were writer who celebrated the televised. essence of blues, gospel. and black folk humor in his work. His poem "A Dream Deferred" was the source of Hansberry's first play title, A Raisin in the Sun. 8 We Shall Overcome There is no doubt that the historical, economic, and social changes that took place during Hansberry's lifetime shaped her outlook and her destiny. Hansberry was a child of the Depression era and, despite FREEDOM RIDES, SIT- COMMUNISMa form INS, PICKET LINESin the fact that her family was comfortable economically, she was keenly of government and the late '50s and early aware of the suffering and deprivation of those around her. No doubt economic system '60s, students who her teen years were affected by World War II, a time when African (developed from the followed Dr. Martin Americans fought hard on two fronts: against the oppression of the ideas of Russian leader Luther King, Jr.'s Nazis and within the segregated United States armed forces. During Lenin and German philosophy of non- Hansberry's college years in the 1950s, the forces of the Cold War, philosopher Karl Marx) helped shape her liberal political violent protest traveled and anti-Communism McCarthyism, calling for centralized to the South on buses views. ownership of industry. to protest. These bus Emphasis is placed on She had tremendous interest in the emergence of independent trips were called the needs of the group African nations and did extensive research and writing on the subject. freedom rides. To rather than the needs courageous protest and the social activism of Rosa Parks's Certainly protest segregated of the individual. Most in the freedom rides, sit-ins, and picket lines the students involved in facilities, large groups Communist forms of South in the '50s inspired her. of students staged sit- government curtail ins in public areas, Along with the rest of the nation, she was profoundly affected by democratic refusing to move. the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. The thinking and ora- participation and Picket lines were tory of African-American leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., individual freedoms. marches in which Malcolm X, and others in the early '60s had a significant personal and ROSA PARKS (1913- ) students carried signs, artistic impact on Hansberry. Six months prior to her death, though Sometimes called the sang, and chanted to gravely ill and in constant pain, she wrote: Mother of the Civil protest segregation in think when I get my health back I rhall go into the South to find out Rights Movement. Ms. front of schools, what kind of revolutionary I am." Parks was a black businesses, and other seamstress who sites. Students who Hansberry was also influenced by the writers and theater artists of protested against participated in these her lifetime. She spoke of the profound effect that Arthur Miller's play segregation on buses activities were (1949) had on her creation of the character of Death of a Salesman in Montgomery, regularly arrested and Hansberry was exposed to A Raisin in the Sun. Walter Lee Younger in Alabama in 1955. By beaten, and some were the work of playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Lillian refusing to give up her killed. Hellmann, and Eugene O'Neill. During these years, method actors seat and move to the such as Marlon Brando and Shelley Winters were bringing a new kind back of the bus, Ms. of realism to acting to accommodate plays that focused on social and Parks drew national political issues. Producers, playwrights, designers, directors, and attention to Civil actors were all affected and inspired by the social changes taking Rights efforts in the place in the country. South. AVAILABLE BEST COPY tErA-;2. . - Before and After the Play Discussion Topics BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE: Activities Have you been to a play/live perfor- 1. At one point during her work on her mance? What was the experience like? 1. award-winning first play, A Raisin in the What advice would you give to a person Sun, Lorraine Hansberry threw the script who is going to live theater for the first YOU MAY WANT TO up to the ceiling, let it scatter on the floor, time? READ and almost swept it into the fireplace. How do you think attending live theater is 2. Make a list of the difficulties you have To Be Young, Gifted, different from going to the movies? trying to write. Share and compare your and Black: Lorraine lists in a small group. Brainstorm ways Hansberry in her Own AFTER THE PERFORMANCE to overcome obstacles and frustrations in Words, adapted by Activities writing. Robert Nemiroff, Imagine that you could write a letter to Prentice Hall, Inc, 1. Imagine yourself writing an autobiogra- 2. Tell her how you Lorraine Hansberry. Englewood Cliffs, New phy 10 years from now List the people felt seeing her life on stage. Tell her Jersey, 1969 and events which will be major influences what you have in common. in your life. Lorraine Hansberry, by Make a journal entry about the perfor- Anne Cheyney, Twayne 2. Looking at yourself in a mirror, draw a 3. mance. What did you like or dislike Publishers, Boston, quick self-portrait in pencil. Create a about the performance? What were the 1984. Twayne's United gallery of self-portraits to display in the most memorable moments? What did States Authors Series, classroom. you learn about Lorraine Hansberry? Warren French, Editor, Keep a journal. For three to seven days, Share your journal entries with partners 4. Indiana University, write down your activities, your observa- or with the class. Indianapolis tions about people, places, and things, Discussion Topics your thoughts, your dreams, what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Carry Describe the set. How was the theater 1. your journal with you so that you can space designed to present the play? record your thoughts as they occur. How did the actors create the many char- 2. When you get to the last day, re-read the Ma OYO . acters they played? The Kennedy Center entry from the first day. Are you sur- Lawrence J. Wilker, President prised at what you wrote? Do you feel the Which actors were your favorites and why? Derek E. Gordon. Associate 3. Managing Director. Education same way now? What in your life has To Be Young Gifted What costumes and props do you remember? 4. and Black changed since that time? Select portions Writer: Ca leen Sinnette of your journal to share with a partner. Were many lights used? Do you remember 5. CUE Editor: Jennings. SHEET Design: Rosalind Flynn. Discuss your entries. Did you write about scenes that were particularly dark? Were Paul Dupree Communications. the same kinds of things? What did you there others that were particularly bright? part is in funded Cuesheet through the support of the U.S. learn about each other? Why do you think those lighting choice's Department of Education, The Kennedy Center Corporate Fund, were made? and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. 01996 The John F. Kennedy Cen- BEST COPY AVAILABLE 10