Sing a Black Girl's Song: The Unpublished Work of Ntozake Shange

by Ntozake Shange, Tarana Burke (Foreword), Imani Perry (Editor)

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Never-before-seen unpublished works by award-winning American literary icon Ntozake Shange, featuring essays, plays, and poems from the archives of the seminal Black feminist writer who stands alongside giants like Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, curated by National Book Award winner Imani Perry with a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Tarana Burke.
 
            In the late ’60s, Ntozake Shange was a student at Barnard College discovering her budding talent as a writer, publishing in her school’s literary journal, and finding her unique voice. By the time she left us in 2018,  Shange had scorched blazing trails across countless pages and stages, redefining genre and form as we know them, each verse, dance, and song a love letter to Black women and girls, and the community at large.
            Sing a Black Girl’s Song is a new posthumous collection of Shange’s unpublished poems, essays, and plays from throughout the life of the seminal Black feminist writer. In these pages we meet young Shange, learn the moments that inspired for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf…, travel with an eclectic family of musicians, sit on “The Couch” opposite Shange’s therapist, and discover plays written after for colored girls’ international success. Sing a Black Girl’s Song houses, in their original form, the literary rebel’s politically charged verses from the Black Arts Movement era alongside her signature tender rhythm and cadence  that capture the minutia and nuance of Black life. Sing a Black Girl’s Song is the continuation of a literary tradition that has bolstered generations of writers and a long-lasting gift from one of the fiercest and most highly celebrated artists of our time.   
 

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Essays, Black Literature

496 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Ntozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) was an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.

Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.

Reviews

[Shawberry Likes To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Grand Central Publishing, Legacy Lit, and Netgalley for this ARC #SingaBlackGirlsSong #NetGalley.

This unpublished works is a beautiful collection of essays, plays, and poems. These original pieces showcase not only her talent but glimpses into the many facets of her being. As her involvement in the Black liberation movement grew, it begin to take shape in her work, the Black diasporic culture was evidentin her early work. While reading along, Untitled #11 spoke to me as I've always said a sense of humor is required to navigate this world. I think many of us are familiar with "For Colored Girls" and may not have delved in to the rest of her works. I truly enjoyed reading these works and appreciated that the efforts to allow them to remain as unchanged as possible.

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read another posthumous work recently, this is how you do it.

This is a beautiful collection of unpublished works from a literary giant. We're not only getting poems but also essays, plays, and glimpses into her life, allowing us to transition through time with her. If you are familiar with her work, then this is definitely something you want to read and add to your library. If you are unfamiliar with her work, I advise you to check out her other pieces so that you can truly appreciate the gem that this is.

This is the type of book where you read the foreword and the introduction—you don’t want to miss out on what’s being offered here. So many of us have been touched by "For Colored Girls." Being offered any opportunity to further view the prose and talent of this author, to see and know her beyond that, is something worthwhile.

As someone who has read some of her other work, I am always left in awe and amazed at the power in her voice and energy when reading. This collection is just another gift. You can tell there was so much care and thought put into the editing and the foreword. I am deeply appreciative of the work put in to make this happen.

Prepare to sit in the weight of her words, reflect, and enjoy.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sing a Black Girl’s Song by Ntozake Shange is a tremendous collection—I was going to say formidable but no, it’s a treasure full of the most stunning precious stones and gems. These are previously uncollected poems, plays, prose full of shine and insight and wisdom. I feel honored to have read this collection edited by Imani Perry. She did a fabulous job with this book including her introduction and footnotes.
The very first piece in the book by our great leader and activist Tarana Burke is about the impact of “for colored girls…” and about her meeting Ntozake and how they laughed. I too will always remember how I felt when I saw “for colored girls…” in New York. It changed me. It set me on my life’s path. It helped me become who I am. Thank you always dear Ntozake Shange. Your song lives on.

[Educator · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Anyone familiar with Ms. Shane's work will be running to add this book to their collection. It is full of previously unpublished works. They evoke emotion and some will leave you reflecting on life and the why of it all. A wonderful offering. Can be used for college courses or for personal reading.

[Hilmg · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO. No.
No, a million times NO.
…
Up close enough for us to see
Feel ourselves there
….
Mourning (morning?)
Yes. The mourning.
We may be honorable enough to endure with our eyes open
The coroner cannot simply bring her hand gently down our eyelids leaving us to silence
Can you stand up child?
Hands stretched out to touch again
…
You did that.
…
You scared your mama
That was when the poem took over
And gave up back what you discovered you didn’t have to give up
All that fullness of breath
….
Nobody will know unless you tell them.
….
Can you make a sacred drawing like …
That will heal us all?
Do I believe in magic?
ISSWIW

[Joy- Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the Love of Literature

Sing a Black Girl Song is a posthumous collection of works by Ntozake Shange. This collection is a gem of literature, comprising unpublished works by Ntozake. The book provides a deep insight into many aspects of her life, from her family dynamics and mental health to her unique writing style.

Although I didn't particularly enjoy the play, the poetry pieces were captivating and added depth to the book's essence. Her writing stood out for its futuristic approach, nonconformity to norms, and creative destructiveness, which I found refreshing.

If I were to critique, it would be the imbalance in the compilation of poems and the play. However, this is understandable considering that these are unpublished works. I also listened to the audio version, which clarified and enhanced my appreciation of the book, especially the play portion.

Overall, Sing a Black Girl Song is a history and literature treasure trove.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a vast collection of poetry, plays, and essays. My thoughts aren't contained or contained as I ponder how to rate this or what to write. By in large, I appreciate the poems and short fiction that was written later in her life, written between 1996 and Shange's death in 2018. I loved and felt and laughed and smiled through this collection, moments felt "seen" and shared, collectively understood and experienced. My 3 favorite poems from this section included:
"grey matters..."
"as long as i am me"
"girl on the porch"

My favorite short essay: "The Angriest Patient"
My favorite play: Layla's Dream

There were so many poems and lines I loved, so many moments of connections, so much to ponder and weigh. I took a moment once I completed this book and closed it. Some books do that...they make you reflect and focus, consider and imagine. This is one such book.

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful collection of poetry and prose by Ntozake Shange. In this collection of Ntozake’s unpublished works there are different parts that cover different aspects and experiences of Ntozake’s life. In some parts I saw what impacted her as a woman of color and the struggles she faced. I’m other parts of the book I got to see particular experiences and how different people guided her experiences.
This body of work was quite enlightening, informative and engrossing. As a black woman I appreciated looking at the world through Ntozake’s eyes.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for this arc for an honest review.

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a reason why a lot of this author's work was unpublished until now. This is a very uneven compilation of over four hundred pages. Some selections are very good and some are not. I liked her poetry best but the plays and essays are many times lacking, Shange rejects traditional language and spelling (could becomes cd) ala Jack Kerowuac. Also, there is constant name dropping that has the editor working overtime with footnotes.

[Micole Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Brilliant. Fulfilling!

[Alejandrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shange was a brilliant woman and author. Exceptional.

[Stephanie Dargusch Borders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very long and includes a lot of previously unpublished work. A collection of poetry and unfinished short fiction and plays.

[Lizeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Monchichi · Rating 4 out of 5]

SENSATIONAL!!! 🤗

[nonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful completion with one the loveliest foreword's I have read in a while.

[Lea Ann Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a white woman, I loved the peek inside of the experience of a black woman as I seek to understand her experience. I enjoyed the pros much more than the poetry just as a personal preference however the narrators did a beautiful job with this book.