Educational Media Reviews Online

Produced and directed by Tracy Heather Strain and The Lorraine Hansberry Documentary Project as part of the PBS series America Masters, Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes| Feeling Heart compiles archival footage, stock photography, and the words of Hansberry herself to deftly tell the narrative of Hansberry’s life, the production of A Raisin in the Sun, and race in the mid-twentieth century America. The film includes footage from the 1961 movie version, interviews with scholars, critics, artists, and family, and, most poignantly, letters from Hansberry. Strain has gained access to the Hansberry home movies, and has woven these together with footage of Chicago, New York City, and America as a whole.

There is no doubt that as the first female African-American playwright produced on Broadway, Hansberry is important to American theatre and letters. But more important, perhaps, is what she represents: the vanguard of disenfranchised voices. The documentary highlights Hansberry’s impact on politics, art, and the American discussion on race. The film could prove useful for classes on theatre, race, and politics, and will stand as a testament to the short life of the playwright.