Our excerpt from Eduoard Glissant’s ‘Caribbean Discourse’ raises important questions and conceptions of diasporic identity — questions about Sameness and Diversity that are evoked in language and in culture.
These ideas of sameness and diversity bring to mind our class discussions about how Shange’s work carefully presents the experiences of black women and women of color as existing outside of a monolith. Further, I’m called to think about our consistent pondering of the Community versus the Self. I was very grateful to be able to ponder the question with Shange herself.
During the Friday morning session, Dania asked about the importance and origin of a quote on the second to last page of “for colored girls.” The quote reads:
i found god in myself
& i loved her/ i loved her fiercely
Shange’s responded that the quote existed in tandem with the rest of the piece — the relationships and discoveries made by the women in the piece culminated in this discovery. Ntozake Shange asked about the fascination with this quote. Various people around the table offered that the quote existed on its own– exhibiting a self-assured-ness and self-awareness. The quote existed on its own– and also revealed a woman who could look inside of herself for all of the things she needs.