Essay On Ntozake Shange
Original Production Paper: For Colored Girls...
Ntozake Shange is, both, an American playwright and poet. She is a self proclaimed black feminist and it is reflected in all of her work. Shange’s work addresses issues relating to race and feminism in attempts to open up the eyes of the readers or audience. She has had many works, including a novel about an African American girl who runs away from home, titled Betsey Brown. She has many honors and awards, as well, that includes fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.
Ntozake Shange was actually born as Paulette L. Williams in Trenton, New Jersey to an upper-middle-class family. Her father, Paul T. Williams, was an Air Force surgeon, and her mother, Eloise Williams, was an educator and psychiatric social worker. When she was 8, Shange’s family moved to the racially segregated city of St. Louis. Because of the Brown v. Board of Education court decision, Shange was bused to a white school where she endured racism and racist attacks.
One thing that seems to be consistent is her family's love and interest in the arts. …show more content…
Shange is clearly telling us that women like these are everywhere, even if we do not know it. Their stories and lives are everywhere and must be heard around the world. For Shange to mention the cities names, is not so much for us to realize that we are in America, but to realize these women are African American, not African or of any other nature. The poem clearly shares that the play is about African American women finding their voices and telling their stories, after being silent for far too long. This relates to the play's theme of freedom and wholeness and allows it to become universal. The two songs at the end of the first poem represent the possibilities for discovering joy, power, freedom and personal truth in the face of oppression and
Ntozake Shange is, both, an American playwright and poet. She is a self proclaimed black feminist and it is reflected in all of her work. Shange’s work addresses issues relating to race and feminism in attempts to open up the eyes of the readers or audience. She has had many works, including a novel about an African American girl who runs away from home, titled Betsey Brown. She has many honors and awards, as well, that includes fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.
Ntozake Shange was actually born as Paulette L. Williams in Trenton, New Jersey to an upper-middle-class family. Her father, Paul T. Williams, was an Air Force surgeon, and her mother, Eloise Williams, was an educator and psychiatric social worker. When she was 8, Shange’s family moved to the racially segregated city of St. Louis. Because of the Brown v. Board of Education court decision, Shange was bused to a white school where she endured racism and racist attacks.
One thing that seems to be consistent is her family's love and interest in the arts. …show more content…
Shange is clearly telling us that women like these are everywhere, even if we do not know it. Their stories and lives are everywhere and must be heard around the world. For Shange to mention the cities names, is not so much for us to realize that we are in America, but to realize these women are African American, not African or of any other nature. The poem clearly shares that the play is about African American women finding their voices and telling their stories, after being silent for far too long. This relates to the play's theme of freedom and wholeness and allows it to become universal. The two songs at the end of the first poem represent the possibilities for discovering joy, power, freedom and personal truth in the face of oppression and