This thesis s a study of Lorraine Hansberry as a person, an intellectual, a black and a writer. Her two plays, A Raisin in the Sun and The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, are analysed in relation to her background and the themes and movements that the writer of her time pondered. It was found that Lorraine Bansberry's plays like those of the writers of her time, through themes of social conflict, modern man's dilemma of false dreams and disillusionment came to the onclusion that in the long run man irrespective of titles is capable of everything humanly possible. Her play To Be Young Gifted and Black, was cited as a basic source for her background, ideas and conceptions.The thesis studies the relation of Lorraine Hansberry's intellectuality, blackness and artistic potential, to her work and consequently conclusions were drawn that these three sides combined to make of Lorraine Hansberry a committed intellectual and a powerful writer.