representation and purpose

In the podcast “Seeing Yourself in the Archives,” one of the students says, “one of the most important things is to see yourself represented and find purpose, and also heal.” It was interesting to hear representation framed in this way because I typically encounter the term in reference to how vast the lack of representation of marginalized folks is in media, academia, or other spheres is. We typically talk about the costs of lack of representation- negative stereotypes internalized, symbolic annihilation, exclusion, etc. While these conversations are crucial, this framing can at times suggest that representation needs to “happen” in order for non-marginalized folks or exclusive spaces to become educated, inclusive, and diverse. The framing that the student chose instead highlights the positives of representation. Instead, the emphasis is creating art “for us, by us” as a means of finding our own purposes and healing. Based on what we have read from Shange so far, this is something that her work is meant to accomplish. I think of “for colored girls…” and the emphasis it places on the women sharing their individual stories and collective experiences as women of color. For Shange, representation is not supposed to pander to what a white audience (theatrical or otherwise) would expect. Shange’s work’s representation is best summarized by this line:

i found god in myself

& i loved her / i loved her fiercely

It is an opportunity to share and hear one’s individual and collective stories and find healing in those actions.