Carl Augustus Hansberry

Carl Augustus Hansberry (April 30, 1895—March 7, 1946) was a prominent real estate broker, inventor and political activist. He was also the father of award-winning playwright Lorraine Hansberry and the great-grandfather of actress Taye Hansberry.

Biography

Carl Augustus Hansberry was born on April 30, 1895 [World War I Draft Registration Card, Roll #1439759] in Gloster, Amite County, Mississippi. [World War I Draft Registration Card (states place of birth as only Amite County, Mississippi), Roll #1439759] [World War I Draft Registration Card (for brother William Leo Hansberry states place of birth as Gloster, Amite County, Mississippi), Roll #1685072] He was a son of Elden Hayes and Pauline (Bailey) Hansberry. [http://www.africawithin.com/hansberry/hansberry_profile.htm Africawithin.com Biography of brother William Leo Hansberry] He and his older brother, William Leo Hansberry, were raised by their stepfather, Elijah Washington. [1910 U.S. Census, Amite County, Mississippi, household of Elijah Washington] As a young man, he moved to Chicago. [World War I Draft Registration Card (shows place of residence as 5008 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL as June 5, 1917), Roll #1439759]

He married Nannie Louise Perry of Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, the daughter of George Perry, a minister, and his wife, Charlotte "Lottie" Organ. [Nannie Louise Hansberry, death certificate (1966), #003566, State of California, Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA] [1900 U.S. Census, Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, household of George W. Perry] Together Carl and Nannie had four children:

*Carl Augustus Hansberry, Jr. (February 19, 1920—January 12, 1997) [Social Security Death Index]
*Perry Holloway Hansberry (June 4, 1921—December 18, 2002) [Social Security Death Index] [Perry Holloway Hansberry, death certificate (2002), #0053346, State of California, Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California]
*Mamie Hansberry (1925—living), grandmother of actress Taye Hansberry
*Lorraine Vivian Hansberry (May 19, 1930—January 12, 1965)

When his youngest child was eight, Hansberry bought a house in a neighborhood that was restricted to whites. The family was met with intense hostility by local residents and forced to vacate the home by the local courts. Hansberry challenged the ruling, which led to the landmark Supreme Court case "Hansberry v. Lee" (1940).

In 1940, Hansberry made an unsuccessful bid for Congress. In the wake of that loss and frustrated by the pervasive racism in the United States, he made plans to move his family to Mexico. While visiting Mexico, Hansberry suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died there on March 7, 1946.

The family's experience with racial segregation would serve as the inspiration for his daughter Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning play, "A Raisin in the Sun".

References