spell #7

by Ntozake Shange

Genres: Plays

Paperback

Published January 1, 1981

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

[Carla Seravalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

the first thing to actually make me consider dropping out because of how dumb it made me feel.. Shange is a lyrical genius and it makes no sense how she's not discussed in poetry classes because this is far more poetry than drama

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably one of my favorite plays I have ever read. Shange meant for it to make African American people to be proud of their race even when it seemed like such a disadvantage in the slave days. I really loved it because anyone who is ostracized or not proud of who they are can take this play and apply the message to their lives. This really gave me a new point of view on some things.

[mengwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome read that I feel stays true to the story telling techniques of African-American/Black culture while also being something very approachable and understandable as someone with who is white and comes with lots of white privilege.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much in the spirit of the 1970s, the tone of this play is set through dance, movement and music that a reader can only imagine. However, the stories told of African-American lives are powerful and poetic in a style that draws strength from the vernacular.

[cra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"people keep tellin me these are hard times / what are you gonna be doin ten years from now / what in the hell do you think / i am gonna be writin poems ..."