Hansberry highlights that what makes someone truly special isn't trying to fit in, but rather embracing their unique self. She suggests that being authentic and true to who you are is the real mark of an exceptional person.
Quote by Lorraine Hansberry: “The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are, is that you are yourself.”
The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are, is that you are yourself.
Insight
Historical Context
In the mid-20th century, African Americans faced immense pressure to conform or assimilate, while also grappling with evolving notions of Black identity. Hansberry's assertion powerfully affirmed individuality and authenticity as paramount, particularly for young Black people.
About the Author
American playwright and activist, the first Black woman to have a play performed on Broadway with A Raisin in the Sun in 1959. Her essays and letters reveal a radical political thinker whose influence on African American cultural life extended well beyond theatre.
View all quotes by Lorraine Hansberry