“somebody/ anybody

sing a black girl’s song

bring her out

to know herself” 

These lines from the opening poem present Shange’s intention to speak to and for Black women. She intends to present stories that breathe life back into them and to add their voices back to the literary landscape after having been silenced, erased, or spoken about by outsiders who couldn’t possibly be experts in Black women’s lived experiences.

“all mercer county graduated the same nite

Cosmetology secretarial pre-college autoshop & business

all us movin from mama to what ever waz out there” 

In “graduation nite,” Shange explores a young Black woman’s emotions, experiences, and thoughts as she crosses the threshold into adulthood. She stands between girlhood and womanhood, reflecting on what was and participating in joyous celebrations about the future ahead. By the end of the night, she gives away her virginity, marking one of the many ways a girl enters womanhood and developing Shange’s coming-of-age theme.

“& poem is my thank-you for music

& i love you more than poem

more than aureliano buendia loved macondo

more than hector levoe loved himself

more than the lady loved gardenias

more than celia loves cuba or graciela loves el son

more than the flamingos shoo-do-n-doo-wah love being pretty

oyè négro

te amo mas que”

Shange’s musical references provide insight into everything about her writing: style, themes, motifs, symbolism, and more. In this poem, she uses music to explain a young woman’s cultural awakening. She falls in love with Blackness in all forms via African Diasporic music, especially the unique blends created by African-descended people in the Americas and the Caribbean.