Ntozake Shange Books

Ntozake Shange’s classic, award-winning play encompassing the wide-ranging experiences of Black women, now with introductions by two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward and Broadway director Camille A. Brown. From its inception in California in 1974 to its Broadway revival in 2022, the Obie Award–winning for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf has excited, inspired, and transformed audiences all over the country for nearly fifty years. Passionate and fearless, Shange’s words reveal what it meant to be a woman of color in the 20th century. First published in 1975, when it was praised by The New Yorker for “encompassing…every feeling and experience a woman has ever had,” for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf will be read and performed for generations to come. Now with new introductions by Jesmyn Ward and Broadway director Camille A. Brown, and one poem not included in the original, here is the complete text of a groundbreaking dramatic prose poem that resonates with unusual beauty in its fierce message to the world.

This groundbreaking choropoem explores the diverse experiences of black women, weaving together powerful narratives that challenge traditional storytelling. Its innovative structure and lyrical style have garnered critical acclaim, making it a significant work in contemporary literature. The book delves into themes of identity, resilience, and empowerment, offering a profound reflection on the intersection of race and gender. Its influence extends beyond literature, inspiring conversations and movements around social justice and representation.

Ntozake Shange-the cultural icon whose play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide, was adapted into a feature film-fiercely confronts issues relating to race and feminism in this beautiful bilingual (English and Spanish) collection of new and selected poems.