To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a tapestry woven of selections from Lorraine Hansberry's published and unpublished works, is a major statement of the black experience in America. here is Miss Hansberry's unique view of the human spirit, her unwavering belief in the possibilities innate in human nature. Far more than a tribute to one remarkable individual, this book is a monument to hope, an affirmation of the possible. When Lorraine Hansberry died of cancer at the age of thirty-four, she left a precious legacy to us and to future generations: a Legacy of unquenchable optimism, triumphant vision, and steadfast faith.