What I Must Tell The World by Jay Leslie & Loveis Wise

subtitled How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice

Oh, y’all, I don’t even know why I’m crying. No, actually, I suspect I do: I am shamed, and for once not in a bad way, and challenged by the courage it took for playwright Lorraine Hansberry to follow her dreams and live honestly in an era potentially even more hostile to her than the one I live in now is to me. Every life is different ofc but her valor stands out through time, reminding me — and potentially many other readers — that courage takes work, and that even just using your voice to champion the oppressed is already an important step in reshaping the world to be a better, more just place for everyone in it. It’s definitely continuing a personal trend that I recently discussed in my weekly newsletter, where I was Writing About Writing. Who do we write for, I asked, and why is it important, even when the days seem darkest? If you too need further reason to keep making art, this amazing children’s book will likely help shore you up immeasurably.

Ms Hansberry grew up the daughter of a family that decided to challenge segregation by moving from their Black Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville to the white neighborhood of Woodlawn. Despite enduring horrifying racism, the Hansberrys persisted in proving that they belonged, even going to court to defend their right to live there. In 1940, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor in the landmark case Hansberry v Lee. As her father Carl Hansberry told all his children:

They want to push us out. They want to take away our voice–because that’s our most powerful weapon. Because even if they hurt our bodies, our words live on forever. Our stories can change the world.

So young Lorraine grew up dreaming of how she, too, would impact the world using her voice. In 1950, she moved to New York City to write for Paul Robeson at Freedom, a revolutionary Black magazine. But the work consumed so much of her time. She believed in it, but what she really wanted to do was write plays that would showcase Black voices and families and issues.

Marriage, perhaps surprisingly, gave her the free time to pursue her ambitions as a playwright, largely because she married a man who encouraged her to follow her dreams. Alas that she didn’t really feel the way she knew that she was supposed to for her husband Bobby, or for any man. It was women who set her heart racing, a truth she was only able to acknowledge to Bobby as she struggled with setting down the last act of what would be her debut play, A Raisin In The Sun. Endlessly supportive, he encouraged her to live the way she wanted the world to be, as she finished writing her play and set about having it performed on stage for the very first time.

Readers, I was out and out bawling by the end of this book. As if Jay Lewis’ exquisite prose wasn’t enough to convey — in all-ages-friendly fashion — the pathos and courage of Ms Hansberry’s life, Lena Waithe’s closing words absolutely crushed any attempt I might have had at sustaining a stiff upper lip. I’m not usually a fan of celebrities inserting themselves into the books they’re promoting, but I shouldn’t have been surprised that an Emmy-winning writer like Ms Waithe would have the perfect coda for this extraordinary book:

Lorraine’s legacy touched people she never even got to meet–and, as you read these words, we hope her legacy will leave an impression on you. It is up to each of us to live as truthfully and honestly as we can. If we’re lucky, we’ll inspire others to do the same.

Whatever your dreams are, they are important. Look after them. You never know how far your legacy will go, and who you will inspire.

This children’s book debut from Ms Waithe’s Hillman Grad Press is absolutely astonishing, from the superlative writing to Loveis Wise’s incredible art. The cover might actually be the least impressive of their works here, as the illustrations throughout perfectly depict Ms Hansberry’s life and emotions and dreams. This is such a phenomenal book, and I really super need to make a point of reading the other Hillman Grad books on my to-be-read pile. If they’re anything like this masterpiece, Ms Waithe has started possibly the best celebrity imprint in years.

What I Must Tell The World by Jay Leslie & Loveis Wise was published October 22 2024 by Hillman Grad Books and is available from all good booksellers, including