What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice

A luminous picture book biography about artist and activist Lorraine Hansberry, who was the playwright of A Raisin in the Sun, the first play by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway.

"Lorraine Hansberry has had a direct influence on who we are, the stories we tell, and how we move in the world today. We are beyond delighted to share Jay's beautiful words and Loveis's stunning work, bringing this iconic visionary to life for the next generation of dreamers." --Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, and Naomi Funabashi, Hillman Grad Books

Lorraine Hansberry soared to fame when her play A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway, and her work would go on to influence generations of artists. But before the spotlight, Lorraine was a little girl who walked everywhere with a notebook, eager to capture the sights, sounds, and stories of the people around her.

What I Must Tell the World vividly follows Lorraine's journey to finding her voice and her determination to bring Black stories to the stage. Jay Leslie's text and Loveis Wise's artwork capture the experiences that inspired Lorraine, from her childhood in the segregated south side of Chicago to her adult years in Harlem creating alongside other legends like James Baldwin. Lyrical, vibrant, and empowering, this picture book is a celebration of Lorraine Hansberry's life and legacy, and an ode to the power of theater and storytelling.