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beingjada's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse
moodle's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
yikesbmg's review
5.0
Wow wow wow. I bought & read this book because of the outpouring of love for Shange after her death. I hadn’t heard of her before she died and the title seemed relevant to me, to say the least. Content warning: the play discusses domestic abuse and rape.
It’s very short; it’s kind of amazing how much imagery and emotion it invokes with so few words. It gets straight to the point about women of color’s suffering at the hands of men, and does show by showing instead of through long monologues which I appreciate. Also, it was written/published in the 1970/ and the entire text is written in shorthand that I thought originated with the Internet and instant messaging.
I’d recommend to everyone / anyone because it’s really poignant, honest, and short. If you’ve never read anything on a black women’s perspective on self love, love of another, relationships, and the harm love of another can do to love of oneself, read this. This play reminded me of Difficult Women by Roxane Gay so if you liked that you may like this.
It’s very short; it’s kind of amazing how much imagery and emotion it invokes with so few words. It gets straight to the point about women of color’s suffering at the hands of men, and does show by showing instead of through long monologues which I appreciate. Also, it was written/published in the 1970/ and the entire text is written in shorthand that I thought originated with the Internet and instant messaging.
I’d recommend to everyone / anyone because it’s really poignant, honest, and short. If you’ve never read anything on a black women’s perspective on self love, love of another, relationships, and the harm love of another can do to love of oneself, read this. This play reminded me of Difficult Women by Roxane Gay so if you liked that you may like this.
fufureads's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
fishtales's review
5.0
I have never related to a character more than the lady in orange.
“Ever since I realized there waz someone calt a colored girl an evil woman a bitch or a nag I been tryin not to be taht & leave bitterness in sombody else’s cup…. How to avoid my own face wet wit my tears/ cuz I had convinced myself colored girls had no right to sorrow/ & I lived & loved that way & kept sorrow on the curb/ allegedly for you / but I know I did it for myself/ I cdnt stand it/ I cdnt stand being sorry & colored at the same time/ it’s so redundant in the modern world.”
“Ever since I realized there waz someone calt a colored girl an evil woman a bitch or a nag I been tryin not to be taht & leave bitterness in sombody else’s cup…. How to avoid my own face wet wit my tears/ cuz I had convinced myself colored girls had no right to sorrow/ & I lived & loved that way & kept sorrow on the curb/ allegedly for you / but I know I did it for myself/ I cdnt stand it/ I cdnt stand being sorry & colored at the same time/ it’s so redundant in the modern world.”
lsparrow's review
3.0
I feel that this a play that is so much in the performance. Not that there is not poetry in the words but I feel there is so much missing from just the reading of it.
inkerly's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Warning: This poetry book has possibly every content warning you can imagine. Read at your own discretion , and bring handkerchiefs
This is a choreopoem that shines light into the black women experience of the mid 20th century. Theres something for all black daughters, mothers, and grandmothers to resonate with and reflect on, and it’s such a aweing but sad composition of stories that leaves me feeling sad inside. I saw the Tyler Perry rendition of the book before reading this so I have a much more vivid and jarring memory of the events in the poems , but I think the Ebonics writing style , “rainbow” metaphor for the women, and tragic stories were beautifull constructed and together make a classic literary timepiece . My only reasoning for this being 4 stars is the it does get hard to read and I’m sure there are a million hidden meanings behind each line that I couldn’t decipher because of the artistic vision this poem chose to take.
This is a choreopoem that shines light into the black women experience of the mid 20th century. Theres something for all black daughters, mothers, and grandmothers to resonate with and reflect on, and it’s such a aweing but sad composition of stories that leaves me feeling sad inside. I saw the Tyler Perry rendition of the book before reading this so I have a much more vivid and jarring memory of the events in the poems , but I think the Ebonics writing style , “rainbow” metaphor for the women, and tragic stories were beautifull constructed and together make a classic literary timepiece . My only reasoning for this being 4 stars is the it does get hard to read and I’m sure there are a million hidden meanings behind each line that I couldn’t decipher because of the artistic vision this poem chose to take.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Violence, and Rape