Set in the late sixties through early seventies the book focuses on how hard it is to be a black female. A fixed plot does not exist, but the majority of the
poems focus on hardships, continuing to survive despite horrific
experiences, and being black as well as female--a double minority. The women in for colored
girls who
considered suicide/when the
rainbow is
enuf share their stories and gain unity, strength, and self-acceptance by doing so. In for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, Ntozake Shange shares the good and bad personal experiences of women of color (literally).
One of the most important points in for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf is the women’s personal experiences. In the choreopoem, Shange shows seemingly bad experiences can result from seemingly good situations and vice versa. In latent rapist a trusted male companion causes harm by date rape. Earlier in graduation nite, the
lady in yellow talks about her first sexual encounter and the excitement. In one, the lady in red is ennuyé with men and decides to use them how the use females, but still end up feeling lowly.
Also included in Ntozake Shange’s choreopoem are instances where bad experiences turn out for the better, such as in a nite with beau willie brown and Sechita. In a nite with beau willie brown, Crystal gains a new perspective on life and herself after the murder of her two children by her lover. Another bad experience result in a favorable outcome when Sechita turns her humiliating experience as a carnival dancer into a proud moment where she portrays a queen.
Painful experiences can be physically, emotionally, and psychologically damaging, and this occurred several times throughout for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. One of the poems, latent rapist, shows the physically, emotionally, and psychologically damaging aspects of date rape. Abortion cycle # 1 illustratively shows the damages incurred from hack abortions. In one a promiscuous woman physically, emotionally, and psychologically endangers herself by seeking revenge on men through sex. The lady in red tells of the woman who does not seem to realize that she is putting herself in physically dangerous situations by taking early morning strolls. Even though she seemed to be prostituting, in actuality she was looking for a man to lure into her home, seduce in her bed, and order to leave midmorning. For colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf represents all of the physical, emotional, and psychological damages caused by men, shame, or self-infliction.
In no assistance, the rejection caused by the lady in red’s lovers causes her to see that she does not need to be in a loveless relationship. She sees the things she did for this man who was not worth it humorous now. Soon she begins to take responsibility for her actions by refusing to be the victim any longer. Relationships can also get in the way of friendships, which is exactly what happens in pyramid when a male dates two friends at the same time. Luckily the women are able to recognize that their friendships should and will last even when the man does not because of the closeness between them.
The lady in orange refuses to let the struggles that lie ahead because she is a double minority affect her in a negative way in no more love poems # 1. The lady in purple accepts her flaws in no more love poems # 2. The lady in blue responds to the lady in purple in no more love poems # 3. Following the lady in blue is the lady in yellow concluding the series of no more love poems with no more love poems # 4. In this poem the lady in yellow accepts that it is illogical to think that she should not feel pain and now knows her feelings are acceptable.
The lady in green saves herself from being the victim again of her having her vulnerability taken advantage of in somebody almost walked off with all my stuff. In I useta live in a world, theee lady in blue voices her pain by expressing anger. By voicing her pain, her oppression releases. In sorry, the women take turns expressing their anger, which gives them the strength to not accept the artificial apologies and excuses men often provide leading women into a cycle of more pain. When the women begin to grasp that real acceptance comes from self love and not love from men, the picture begins to change. The lady in red speaking in one realizes leaving a relationship is better than giving too much of herself. Reaffirming her insight, the lady in green refuses to give too much of herself when she almost did in somebody almost walked off wid alla my stuff. The poem a layin on of hands marks the spiritual passages of the women who are no longer alone. The rainbow, symbolizing hope, life, and represented by their colors, is now enough.
The poems mentioned here and many excellent others represent the empowering messages found in for colored girls who considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.
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