Lady in Rainbow

I think what makes for colored girls so remarkable is the fusion of music, language, and movement that Ntozake Shange mixes together to create this choreopoem. Purposely assigning each lady a color instead of a name creates an extended metaphor. Similar to formation of a rainbow the experiences the the Lady in Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, Yellow and so forth come together to paint a clearer picture of the experience women of color endure. Shange doesn’t go through the choreopoem without including historical references. She’s purposely gives us something new to learn with each of her works. For example, Lady in Blue expresses her love for Latin music and references the salsa singer Hector Lavoe. I couldn’t continue reading without finding out more about this artist, without Youtubeing Bomba. Even without this urge the incorporation of music and dance layered throughout the poem forces you to engage most your senses.

I’m not surprised that Shange’s for colored girls comes with so much criticism. It’s been labeled by some as “man bashing” (so to speak). I think by even taking up this argument we’re failing to address the contribution that for colored girls adds to the so few narratives out there highlighing the stories of women of color. The details regarding men in this work are difficult to read and at some points gut wrenching to come to terms with, but none the less it is a woman’s story worth telling, it’s someone’s truth.