✨ Blavity Fest 2025: Cultivating Black Wealth and Ideas 
Dates: May 31 - June 1, 2025
Location: Lee + White, Atlanta, GA Blavity Fest 2025 is a transformative celebration of Black innovation, wealth-building, and cultural expression. Taking place at Lee + White in Atlanta, this festival is designed to educate, empower, and connect attendees through dynamic discussions, interactive workshops, and electrifying entertainment. Join us for two days of thought-provoking panels, hands-on learning experiences, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or changemaker, this is the space to cultivate ideas and build community. 🎟️ Get Your Tickets Now: bit.ly/3GRPkl9 or visit @blavity (fb)

🎭 NBAF Artists You Should Know On Their Birthday: Lorraine Hansberry Born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, Lorraine Hansberry was a visionary playwright and activist whose work and life continue to inspire generations. Raised in a politically active family, Hansberry grew up in a household that challenged segregation head-on. Her father, Carl Hansberry, famously fought a legal battle against restrictive housing covenants, a story that would later influence Lorraine’s groundbreaking play, A Raisin in the Sun. Hansberry attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she initially studied painting before shifting her focus to writing. After leaving college, she moved to New York City, where she immersed herself in the bohemian and intellectual circles of Harlem. While working at Freedom, a progressive Black newspaper founded by Paul Robeson, she honed her voice as both a writer and an activist, championing civil rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ equality. In 1959, Hansberry made history as the first African-American woman to have a play performed on Broadway with A Raisin in the Sun. The play, which tells the story of a Black family grappling with racism, economic hardship, and dreams for a better life, was an instant success and remains a cornerstone of American theater. Its exploration of race, class, and identity was groundbreaking, offering a nuanced portrayal of Black life rarely seen on stage at the time. The play received the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play, making Hansberry the first Black playwright and the youngest American to earn the honor. Hansberry’s activism was inseparable from her artistry. Through her speeches, essays, and plays, she fearlessly tackled issues of racial injustice, gender inequality, and the marginalization of LGBTQ+ communities. She was an outspoken advocate for human rights and worked tirelessly to advance the causes she believed in. Tragically, Lorraine Hansberry passed away from pancreatic cancer on January 12, 1965, in New York City at the age of 34. Despite her untimely death, her influence on theater and activism remains profound. A Raisin in the Sun has been adapted for film and television multiple times, and her unfinished works and personal writings continue to inspire dialogue and action. Hansberry’s legacy endures as a beacon of courage, creativity, and commitment to justice. #LorraineHansberry #NationalBlackArtsFestival #ArtistsYouShouldKnow #BlackHistory #BlackArtists #EachOneTeachOne #NBAF (fb)