for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf

Extraordinary … Ntozake Shange writes with such exquisite care and beauty * New York Times *for colored girls shattered the Negro propriety I knew and lived by. The force of Shange’s writing seemed to say, “Fuck the old rule of not airing your female business in front of colored men, white people, let alone the rest of the world.” You own the copyright on your life – Hilton AlsEncompassing, it seems, every feeling and experience a woman has ever had * New Yorker *Inspiring. Emotionally charged. Ground-breaking. This text has always had a special place in my heart – Bernardine EvaristoA revelation. I am so thankful to Ntozake Shange for seeing us, reflecting us … for weaving our words into drama, into poetry, and showing us how beautiful we can be – Jesmyn WardCelebrates the capacity to master pain and betrayals with wit, sister-sharing, reckless daring, and flight and forgetfulness if necessary – Toni Cade BambaraA cannon-creating work that illuminates the lived experience of Black women. First conceived in 1974, it is rightfully revered for its unquantifiable influence * Guardian *The book that has influenced my writing the most … Its fusion of narrative, poetry and choreography is seismic. Both political and personal, it left its watermark on me, hinting at the sheer possibilities of poetry and literature – Joelle Taylor * Guardian *

Ntozake Shange (1948-2018) is the author of thirty-six published works, made up of plays, novels, children’s books and poetry collections. Her ‘choreo-poem’ for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf retains its status as the longest running play by an African American writer in Broadway history. Its 2022 Broadway revival garnered seven Tony Award nominations. She has been posthumously inducted into both the NY State Writers and the Off-Broadway Alliance halls of fame, cementing her legacy as one of the most cherished Black feminist writers of our time.

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