EVENT ALERT: Colored Girls' author Ntozake Shange and Ifa Beyaza At Book Signing at Bed Stuy Restoration, Sunday December 19

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

You’ve seen the movie, “For Colored Girls Who Consdered Suicide…” now come meet the author! Ntozake Shange and her sister Ifa Beyaza will be at Bed-Stuy Restoration’s Skylight Room* for a gala reception and book signing Sunday December 19, 2010, from 4pm to 7pm.

These two very talented and accomplished sisters, each iconic successes in their own right, have co-authored a novel entitled “Some Sing, Some Cry” (568 pp. St. Martin’s Press) The book chronicles the quasi-fictional story of the Mayfield family, and traces them from slavery through to modern times. It focuses on the life and times of these women and their decendents.

Ms. Shange’s epoch making choreo-poem “for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf”, is the only poem of its kind to translate successfully to Broadway (according to the New York Times). In Zulu, Ntozake means "she who comes with her own things, and Shange means "who walks like a lion."

Those of us who were in New York City, back in the day, vividly remember what a controversy it was on Broadway; in much the same way it is now with Tyler Perry’s movie version.

Shange’s equally talented sister, playwright Ifa Beyaza authored “The Ballad of Emmett Till”, about the brutal 1955 murder of the innocent teen who went south to visit his Mississippi relatives, and was beaten and murdered for allegedly looking at a white woman.

Together these two sisters, who originally hail from Trenton, New Jersey, will be on hand to sign “Some Sing, Some Cry.“ At nearly 600 pages, this promises to be a good read. It is an epic novel designed to capture the lives of women who have faced major challenges - from rape, to betrayal, to unemployment, to racism, and beyond, but persevered because of and in spite of these seeming obstacles. The dichotomy of success followed by failure, followed by success/failure down through the generations, are issues many Black women can relate to. The Mayfield women are hilarious and sexy, gorgeous and strong. They all work the same refrain: “Never go backward. Always be movin’, movin’ forward. Life is in front of me, not behind.” After every near defeat, these women pick themselves up, sometimes literally off the ground, and take the next impossible step. And while they all take that step differently — choosing to run or to work, to curse or, yes, to sing — not one of them spends much time crying.( NYTimes Kaiama L. Glover)"

The reception and book signing event is being sponsored jointly by Women of Faith Advocating For Change; Women for Annette Robinson, and Lori Cumbo, founder and curator of MOCada Art Museum. Hostess for the evening is NY State Assemblywoman Annette M. Robinson.

The book purchase and signing offered at a discount of $25.00.

*Directions: (1368 Fulton Street, between New York and Brooklyn, take the A train to Nostrand, the C train to Kingston, the 25 bus to Fulton & New York, the South Bound 43 to Brooklyn and Fulton; the 44 Bus to Fulton & New York Ave.)
For additional information call (718) 399-7630

Ms. Gloria Dulan-Wilson is available for public appearances, panels, hosting events, etc., for info email her at gloriadulanwilson@gmal.com


Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson