I think art is a healing force, and if we give in to the joy that can be found in art, then we are able to sustain ourselves in spite of ourselves.
Ntozake ShangeRead
i usedta live in the world really be in the world free & sweet talkin good mornin & thank-you & nice day uh huh i cant now i cant be nice to nobody nice is such a rip-off regular beauty & a smile in the street is just a set-up
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a loss of innocence and the jaded view of goodness in the world.
Ntozake Shange's quote expresses a deep disillusionment with the idea of being kind and cheerful in a world that may not reciprocate genuine intentions. It highlights how the speaker once engaged with the world openly and pleasantly, but has since become wary, perceiving that niceness is often exploited or goes unnoticed. This evokes a sense of vulnerability and a struggle between the desire to connect with others and the harsh realities that make such connections feel futile.
Themes
DisillusionmentKindnessWorldviewVulnerabilityConnection
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the importance of authenticity in relationships.
More from Ntozake Shange
All quotes →Where there is a woman there is magic. If there is a moon falling from her mouth, she is a woman who knows her magic, who can share or not share her powers. A woman with a moon falling from her mouth, roses between her legs and tiaras of Spanish moss, this woman is a consort of the spirits.
Ntozake ShangeRead
I write for young girls of color, for girls who don’t even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they arrive. I can only change how they live, not how they think.
Ntozake ShangeRead
one thing I don’t need is any more apologies i got sorry greetin me at my front door you can keep yrs i don’t know what to do wit em they don’t open doors or bring the sun back they don’t make me happy or get a mornin paper didn’t nobody stop usin my tears to wash cars cuz a sorry.
Ntozake ShangeRead
The slaves who were ourselves had known terror intimately, confused sunrise with pain, & accepted indifference as kindness.
Ntozake ShangeRead
It still amazes and fascinates me that women of color have kept my work alive for these many generations.
Ntozake ShangeRead
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