I have so much love for Ntozake and my heart goes out to her loved ones tonight.
When I walked into that theater, as a young twenty-something and new to New York City, I was filled up with the flutter —of anticipation, of curiosity and joy. Because Ntozake was a colored girl AND a sensation.
And what an influence she had on me and so many other colored girls. We were locked and beaded and adorned with nose-rings. We played congas and chekere, and performed spoken word.
She helped make us visible to a world that shunned and demeaned us; she opened a door to possibilities of expression and she was celebration, uncompromised.
Every single word of For Colored Girls hums with Ntozake’s spirit, and her truth. It is a deeply personal work of art, a life lived to the fullest.
But it is not ONLY for colored girls – it has something to teach EVERYONE. Like the greatest works of art, it is both personal AND universal.
It is also timeless because same as back then, when the forces and situations get too much, colored girls still consider suicide. Too many of us still walk the planet with negativity looping in the brain, pain in the souls, and depression clouding the spirit.
And that is why it is more important than ever for us to share Ntozake's work with the next generation.
Because her way of reaching out using her words/song/dance and talking about what is not talked about, is just as powerful as it was four decades ago. If not more!
And the best way to honor Ntozake is through her art and yours.
So here’s my challenge to you: Don’t just read her works of art – drink in her energy, and let it feed the potential burning inside you—the power that warms you and keeps you pushing forward.
Because we must all keep moving toward the rainbow, no matter who or what stands in our way.
