Scan barcode
ynit_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault
megnut's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Gaslighting
bridgetmnelson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Abortion
stevia333k's review against another edition
5.0
It gave me perspective on dancing, it gave me perspective on why date rape was in contrast to rape instead of in contrast to rape by stranger. It gave me perspective on other people who cling to historical figures for representations of safe spaces, it gave me perspective on some of the D/V dynamics I have with my racist family right now (I'm a white settler & so are they, but I'm trans & they're cis.)
Also the July 2010 preface was so important to read, I'm very thankful it was written. It gives guidance on how to adapt this for a variety of races women are. As a white settler disabled trans woman working on becoming a welcome guest & not connected to theater/performance people (I still need to look up performances/adaptations.) This felt important because I needed to read a lot of the book outloud to get a sense of the poetry, and some of the words I do not feel comfortable saying especially as a white woman instead of a woman of color.
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bashsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Xenophobia, and Murder
-Racial slurs are used in a reclaimed way -Graphic discussions of victim blamingcladdel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
tabithae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
kashalaabrahams's review against another edition
4.0
Ntozake Shange's debut 'Choreopoem' (a term she coined herself), stands the test of time. To read this in 2021 was truly an immersive experience, each character's monologue was distinct in diction yet still maintained a harmonious tone whilst conversing with one another.
Vital statistics to consider when reading this book:
- 'For every 15 Black women who are assaulted, just 1 reports her rape.'
- '1 in 4 black girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18.'
'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf' tells the tales of several black women and their struggles in a marginalised society. All of them on the receiving end of pain and torment. Matters of abortion, sexual and domestic violence, and child murder are addressed in these poems, each stylised in a vernacular way that adds to the personalisation of these stories. It reminds us that these events do unfortunately happen in real life, the longer these topics are avoided in society, the longer people suffer the affects. What we call generational trauma in modern day.
'i'm gonna tack a sign to my door
leave a message by the phone.
if you called
to say yr sorry
call somebody
else
i dont use em anymore'
This work being published 1976 was and is a pivotal moment in how our society disregards black pain and how we as black women choose to address it. Do we often hide it out of fear of judgement? Judgement from who? These questions may have different answers, I applaud Ntozake Shange for opening up this dialogue in a time when black women were still finding their power and voice in a world that told them by its actions that it just didn't care enough.
'My love is too beautiful to have thrown back in my face.'
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
ashleycmms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail