We Sing A Black Girl's Song
The Black woman’s voice has always been an important one in history. It has been the voice that has started movements, challenged systems of oppression, uplifted people when needed, and has impacted society as we know it through our innovation, creativity, and style. From the spirituals of the Black church to the Black woman anthems in popular culture, The Black woman’s voice has always been the sounding board and the soundtrack of our lives that has gotten us through, enabling us to be seen, heard, valued, respected, and validated. For decades, For Colored Girls has been one of those vehicles of expression that has amplified the voices of Black women artists.
Having the above in mind, the name of my project will be called Sing A Black Girl’s Song, which is a famous line in For Colored Girls from the Lady In Brown monologue “Dark Phrases of Womanhood”. Ntozake so eloquently states in the monologue, “Sing a Black girl’s song. Bring her out to know herself.” I see the Dark Phrases monologue as a Black Woman’s anthem. It tells our story, the struggles, triumphs, and everything in between while reminding us of the beauty and power of being a Black woman. Therefore, the project will focus on this specific monologue from the play.
I have been fascinated by the role of Lady In Brown ever since playing her in a local production of For Colored Girls in the mid 2000s, a role that legendary Philadelphia native Patti LaBelle played in a 1983 production of the play produced by Public Broadcasting Service’s American Playhouse. Over the years I have wondered what the Lady In Brown monologue would look like and sound like reimagined as a song. Moreover, what it would look like and sound like if the characters in For Colored Girls made an album.
My intention for this project is to explore the above concepts. The project will be part documentary featuring interviews of the artists, and part performance piece with original songs and spoken word pieces inspired by the play that will serve as a soundtrack for the visuals of the project. The project will ask such questions as, “what does it mean to be a Black woman in arts and entertainment today, what does Sing a Black Girl’s Song mean to you, and how has the play For Colored Girls influenced you as a woman and artist?” Within this documentary-style visual album, the intention is to feature performances at the Colored Girls Museum in Philadelphia as well as feature scenes from the artist’s happy place that fuels their creativity and joy.
