sisterhood

‘For colored girls’ moves audiences to find their own rainbows

“For colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” also called “For Colored Girls”, is a choreopoem written by Ntozake Shange. It premiered in 1976 and tells the story of seven African-American women, identified by separate colors of the rainbow, who struggle with sexism, racism, poverty, mental illness and more. They suffer unspeakable horrors, brave heartbreak and loss and wrestle with their own identities in their communities and the wider world.

Lydia McKelvie | Staff Writer

Sign up for the email edition

Stay up to date with everything happening at Washington University and beyond.

Subscribe