Navy Pier in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
To Sit a While
By Alison Saar, 2022
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 25, 2026
1. To Sit a While Marker
In 1959, Hansberry became the first Black female playwright produced on Broadway with A Raisin in the Sun. "Never be afraid to sit a while and think" is a quotation from that now iconic play.
The five chairs represent Hansberry's work as a playwright, journalist, and activist for Black, women's, and LGBT+ causes. These chairs are an invitation to sit with her and reflect.
A gift from The Lillys, an organization dedicated to women in theater.
Erected 2022.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.
Location. 41° 53.421′ N, 87° 36.598′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Navy Pier. It is on East Illinois Street near Streeter Drive. The sculptures are south and west of Navy Pier, just off the drive leading up to it. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60611, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Captain on the Helm (within shouting distance of this marker); 2021 Save the People's Pier Campaign (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Illinois & Michigan Canal
this page online
Regarding To Sit a While. Lorraine Hansberry was born on Chicago's south side in 1930. When she was 7, her family moved to the all-white Washington Park subdivision on the south side in order to challenge its strict racial covenants that barred Blacks from purchasing homes in the neighborhood. Their lawsuit eventually became the Hansberry v. Lee Supreme Court case, whose decision paved the way for later decisions that outlawed racial covenants.
Hansberry completed Raisin in the Sun in 1959, and it played on Broadway for 530 shows. In 1961, it was made into a film starring Sidney Poitier. While she was married for nine years, she lived most of her adult life as a closeted lesbian, as homosexuality was illegal in New York. She died of pancreatic cancer on January 12, 1965, at age 34.
Also see . . .
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 25, 2026
2. To Sit a While
1. Lorraine Hansberry biography. From the National Women's History Museum
Excerpt: "Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Hansberry and her family were involved in the racial justice movements of the era. Her parents were prominent members of the African American community and her father worked for the NAACP. When prominent African American community members and leaders came through Chicago, they went to the Hansberrys home. The family hosted W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, and Jesse Owens."(Submitted on March 26, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Alison Saar profile. From the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a bio of the woman who designed this sculpture. (Submitted on March 26, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. The Lillys official site. (Submitted on March 26, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 25, 2026
3. To Sit a While, near Navy Pier
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 25, 2026
4. To Sit a While
Chicago's skyline is in the background to the west.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 26, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
