Remembering Ntozake Shange / How Her Rainbow Empowered Generations

My heart hurt when I heard. I've never met Ntozake Shange a day in my life, but to me she is family. In her work I found a sense of meaning not only as a black woman, but also as a creative writer. Ntozake Shange's life and work liberated so many people in numerous ways. I'm grateful for her boldness and that the positive impact she created will continue through her stories.

I remember sitting in a book store one day reading "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf" I felt empowered, understood, and connected. Also, that the choreopoem had so much more substance than the film. It was real, raw, and liberating. Reading the book by Ntozake Shange made me feel like I wasn't alone in the world and that I can also have a voice despite all the systemic "dilemmas" of black womanhood.

That's why hearing the news of Shange's death felt like a huge shift in the world. She is a legend that will be truly remembered. Ntozake Shanges work touched so many people, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf" was just one of her most popular pieces.

Shange, born Paulette Linda Williams in 1948 in Trenton, NJ was a Poet, Novelist, and a Playwright. Some of her popular pieces were Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo (1982), Liliane (1994), and Betsey Brown (1985). "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf" produced in 1975 touched the lives of black women across multiple genrations and introduced the word "choreopoem" into the dictionary. 

In 2010 "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf" was adapted into a film, produced by Tyler Perry. Shange's work has won and been nominated for several major awards. Shange earned a Master's Degree in American Studies in 1973. She was one of the most notable creatives in American culture.

StarTribune reported that Shange died in her sleep "in an assisted living facility in Bowie, Md., where she lived." From her creativity and perhaps in her death, the peace of the rainbow was eternally on Shanges side. 

For Colored Girls (Film Adaptation, 2010)

A prolific writer and creative Shange is survived by her relatives, and the countless lives she's touched through her amazing literary work.

How did Ntozake Shange's creative work touch your life? Leave your comment below and connect with us on all social media channels @BOLDJournal for more updates.

More details on Ntozake Shange's life from StarTribune:
http://www.startribune.com/obituary-ntozake-shange-pioneering-playwright-poet-and-novelist/498795391/

"The Body Confidence" - Poetry

1 Corinthians 12:27

The Body Confidence

I've never been the object of a crush,
but my body has inspired a lot of lust.
You see I was highlighting it and building it up.

Unknowingly there was PRIDE there
and where your treasure is your heart will be
but it's time to build my spirit muscle up

to produce what truly feeds,
to meet not only my needs,
but others, to sew seeds
of life, and what's truly right

that which comes from the inside
is more valuable than body confidence or pride

I'm building me up spiritually, continuously
so when I come to you
it's more than a body you see.

Let The Words Of My Mouth -- Faith-Based Poetry

Let The Word's Of My Mouth is a gospel centered poetry event that currently takes place in Fayetteville, GA. The line up of artists and poets is stellar. The latest installment in the series will include such performers as 5:10 Poet, Chris Dixon, Cyrus Harbin, Chavis Flagg, Nicki Harris and many more favorites from around the Atlanta, GA area and beyond.

The event will take place on August 27, 2016 at 383 Fayetteville Place in Fayetteville, Ga.

Here is the ticket link with more details... so you can grab those tickets: (Click Below)
Let The Words Of My Mouth: A Christian Spoken/Word Poetry Event

I Conquered That - Rowzina Middleton

Poetry by Rowzina Middleton

I almost died a month ago

See satan was granted permission to bait me

Whispering demonic nothings in my ear

Tempting me

The weapon of suicidal thoughts was formed

Tried to tell me he was going to take me out

End my life

Oh I did doubt

I was not taking what lucifer said seriously

After all He will always be my enemy

The weapon it formed but it could not prosper

That day all day the enemy attempted to persuade me

To kill me

Commit suicide and end me

Thank God for praying friends

Who walk by my side

Loving me enough to speak life into me

To pray for my mind and my sanity

To talk to me until things subside

Remind me of who I am and what’s on the inside

Of me

Yea I almost died a month ago

Oxygen level was beyond a normal low

1.6

The doctors could not believe it

Medical staff baffled

Nursing staff visiting the ICU

Just to see a walking, living, breathing

Miracle

Lost so much blood I had a few transfusions

Platelets were destroyed

They had to be replaced

Iron so low

Body was weak

In 2 days I was almost back on my feet

See I have praying people

Who rock on my team

Those who genuinely care about me and my well being

Seeing what I could not see spiritually

Pushing me prayerfully

Into my destiny

Time to pay attention

Pay attention

God always gets His glory

Out of us our testimony, out of our story

First stay at the hospital

On bed rest for 2 days

Nurses had to do everything for me

Even clean me

Walking  wasn’t easy

I would fall to my knees

Nurses having to catch me

I had time to think

Re-evaluate everything

Was reminded of who I am in Christ

I have purpose

So no satan you cannot take my life

I belong to God

I live for Him

It's my turn

To do what I do best

Shine

Shine my light so bright that

Satan and his useless army are so blinded by that light

They get distracted

They will get no satisfaction from me

Already defeated

I have the victory

So yea I almost died a month ago

I shouldn't be standing here today

Doing much better than I was before

Proving to the enemy, my haters and naysayers that my life has meaning

Purpose, I am walking in my destiny

I'm living in my promised land

Collecting all its attributes

Loving my life, pursuing my dreams

Making them a reality

No it’s not too late

I got another chance

To live this loaned life to the fullest

So grateful to be alive today

I will testify of how great my God is

How He has healed me delivered me,

Anointed and gifted me

Loves me more than I can even comprehend

Purpose lives on the inside of me

It cannot and will not die

My life goals and plans

God ideas will manifest from within me

I have the victory

Nothing can stop me

I am successful

I am unstoppable

My new mantra since my hospital  discharge:

I have conquered ITP

ITP will not conquer me

 

For more poetry by Rowzina. Check out her book This Right Here Is A Faith Walk on Amazon. Follow up with Rowzina on Twitter @row_unstoppable   +Rowzina Middleton .

The Truth Without Photoshop

Poetry by Janette...ikz

Another writer posted a question "who was my favorite poet?" Maya Angelou was the first to come to mind, but as I thought about it more another name popped up: Janette...ikz. I saw a powerful video by her on YouTube  some years back. 

I checked out the video again just to reminisce. I  wasn't intending on listening to the whole thing , but it was so attention grabbing it's kind of impossible not to.



The truth without Photoshop is much more than a poem, it's a ministry. A girl tells her story, and its power  packed with action! From sadness to salvation. In your face rhetoric that's undeniable.

Hope to see a lot more from this poet!! by the end of the video I was screaming with delight and at points I was in tears. Awesome Content! Very Inspirational! Way to Go Janette...Ikz!! continue to be an uplifting Witness!!



-April D. Byrd

POEM: DON'T YOU KNOW

THIS POEM WAS ORIGINALLY FEATURED ON 
PEACE BE STILL MASSAGE & WELLNESS

FOR ABUSE  AWARENESS DAY

 

WE MUST HAVE FAITH THAT WE WILL GROW OUT OF OUR DEPRESSION, OUR PAIN, OUR SORROWS, AND GRIEF. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN OUR OWN STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO SURVIVE.

DID YOU KNOW

Did you know

That when you say I love you it’s a blatant lie

Did you know

That when you caress my face it blackens my eye

Did you know

That when you call me beautiful you hide my disgraceful face

Did you know

That when we are embraced your thrust overcomes my soul with pain

Did you know

That when I smile it’s only to keep my saviors away

Did you know

That when we are laughing I would rather be dead

Did you know

That when you’re with friends I know someone else is in your bed

Did you know

That when I say I’m just tired I’m screaming inside

And after all your love I just want have peace and die…

This is what I know

I know

That you’re pitiful existence is no fault of mine

I know

That I don’t need you I have God

I know

That no other woman will have a heart for you like me

I know

That I have every right to be happy

I know

That my body and spirit will heal

I know

That my pain was very real

I know

That you no longer have any power

I know

That those begging tears are from a coward

I know

That it is time for me to be free

That’s right my love I’m leaving

Didn’t you know? 

 By Carmen Fletcher

The Glorious Miserable Road (POEM)

2 Timothy 1:7

I’m not a ‘good Christian’
I don’t put ashes on my head
Preacherman told me-
Without faith, I might as well be dead
But who said I was faithless?
My spirit is very much free
Because my God built my strength.
 through misery

Listen, I had

Holes in my long boots
cutting my feet on streets of glass
Thrown away by those saying “I love you”
Each meal treated like my last
No life form to talk to
just the box, bridge, and me.
Until 5:02 at dawn when the Light awoken me.

Stepping out barefoot

still on the streets of glass.
Trusting on His promise and
living darkness from my past.
Beatings, greed, and needles
ripping out from my core.
Stripped down to nothing
I thought there would be more.

Walking in my own trail of tears

I was drained of ever poison,
And every fear
But,
I couldn’t see the goodness
 in the tears of gold.
I believed He broke His promise
and was ready to sell my soul.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path -Psalm 119:105

Ignoring the glimmer of the path of tears

I regressed into the familiar darkness that I once feared
I dove deep enough to see the gates of hell
Whipped myself with rods of shame
Ready to surrender my spirit until…

I awakened

into a dream of second chances,
friendly handshakes, and welcoming romances.
Respecting the master of my fate
and conqueror of my soul
I cried, bled, and walked on ,
because He kept promising me
That you my child will have glory

I’m

not an Oscar winning actress, inventor, or billionaire,
yet I matter because I breathe air.
I’m
not a perfect spirit,
a  sin walker with good deeds.
It’s not amazing to you,
but this is the path He chose for me.

Solid shoes on my feet

With more mountains to climb.
Some will be smooth, treacherous,
and filled with land mines.
My strength is still building,
At least I am victorious and free

Thank God!

For this glorious road of misery






by Carmen Fletcher

Photo credit: Librarything, Mike Mcaughny