Ntozake Shange’s Play "I Found God in Myself" is Revived After 40 Years at the African Ame
(Photo courtesy Amber Robles Gordon via uwishunu philadelphia)
Ntozake Shange’s play I Found God in Myself comes back to life in an art exhibit at the African American Museum of Philadelphia. Her play encompassed the power and beauty of African American girls and her work is personified through the unique and powerful pieces of art in the museum’s exhibit.
The rainbow of colors are overwhelming when walking around and will attract any audience at any moment. However, the colorful and contemporary pieces of art are more than just beauty to the eye. The exhibit starts by showing the problems that many colored* girls have faced such as drug abuse, sexual assault, racism, Aids, and prostitution. But this tone changes as the art transforms to show that all women are not just a pretty face but are unique. For example there are strips of many different kinds of fabric on chicken wire ranging in size, color, and texture representing the mixture of types and personalities of women. Walking further along in the exhibit the power and achievements of colored* girls are found through paintings and sculptures. A powerful painting encapsulates this message as a black girl is looking up in the rich blue sky, and her curls are made of record vinyls. Along with this beautiful painting comes a message discussing the colored* women who have influenced the music industry. When going into the exhibit one expects to admire beautiful art, but when leaving they are left with the history and evolution of women of color*.
*I will be referring to African American women as women of color because that was how this exhibit in the museum referred them.