Sing a Black Girl’s Song: The Unpublished Work of Ntozake Shange
Edited by Imani Perry

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About the Book

Sing a Black Girl’s Song is an extraordinary collection of unpublished works by the award-winning American literary icon Ntozake Shange. The anthology features essays, plays, and poems curated by National Book Award winner Imani Perry, and includes a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Tarana Burke. This collection serves as a continuation of Shange’s powerful legacy, standing shoulder to shoulder with other Black literary giants like Toni Morrison and Alice Walker.

A Trailblazer’s Journey

Beginning as a budding writer at Barnard College in the late ’60s, Shange grew into a literary force that transcended genre and form. By the time of her passing in 2018, she had etched an indelible mark on the American literary landscape. Her work was not just prose or poetry; it was a blend of dance, song, and verse that spoke volumes to the experiences of Black women and girls, as well as to the wider community.

Inside the Collection

The collection takes us on a literary journey through Shange’s life, shedding light on her formative years, the inspirations behind her seminal work for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, and her accomplishments thereafter. It features:

• Early poems and politically charged verses from the Black Arts Movement era
• Insights into her therapy sessions in a piece titled "The Couch"
• Unpublished plays written after the international success of for colored girls
• Essays and writings that capture the minutia and nuance of Black life

Legacy Continued

Sing a Black Girl’s Song is more than a collection; it’s a long-lasting gift to current and future generations. It captures Shange’s tender rhythm and cadence, as well as her fiery, revolutionary spirit. This posthumous collection solidifies her role as one of the most influential and fiercely celebrated artists of our time, and bolsters a literary tradition that has been a bedrock for generations of writers.