Biography of Ntozake Shange

Born Paulette Williams - took name Ntozake Shange in 1971. Feminist, poet, playwright, author, dancer, actress, musician, director, and college teacher. Best known as the creator and developer of the "choreopoem" as a dramatic form, with her most successful theatre piece, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf (1976). Born in Trenton, NJ the daughter of a surgeon and a psychiatric social worker. Grew up in upstate New York and in St. Louis, MO. Educated at Barnard Coll. (B.A. with honors in American Studies, 1970 and the Univ. of Southern California (M.A. in American Studies, 1973). Also studied music and dance. Twice married; currently to jazz musician David Murray, 1977. Assumed her Zulu name (pronounced En-toZAH-ki SHONG-gay) in 1971. Her first name means "She who comes with her own thing"; her last name means "One who walks like a lion." Has taught English, creative writing, drama, and related subjects at Trenton State Coil., 1972; California State Coil, at Sonoma, 1973-75; CCNY, 1975; Medgar Evers Community Coil., 1975; Douglass Coil., Rutgers Univ., 1978; and Rice Univ., 1983. Performed in several jazz/dance/poetry ensembles in California and New York. Television appearances include "Straight Talk" (1976), "Sunday" (1976), "Black Journal" (1977), and "An Evening with Diana Ross" (1977). Radio appearances include "Celebrity Hour" (WRVR, 1976). In 1979 she directed several plays for the New York Shakespeare Festival (NYSF), including The Mighty Gents (RICHARD WESLEY, 1979) and Tribute to Sojourner Truth (BERNIECE REAGON and JUNE JORDAN, 1979). Her books include Nappy Edges (a book of poems, 1978); Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo: A Novel (1982- originally published as Sassafrass: A Novella, 1977); Melissa & Smith: A Story (1983); A Daughter's Geography: Poetry (1983); Matrilineal Poems (1983); See No Evil: Prefaces, Essays, and Accounts, 1976-1983 (1984); and Betsy Brown (a novel, 1985). Her short fiction, articles, and poems have appeared in numerous periodicals, including Ms. magazine, Black Scholar, Hoodoo, Sojourner, Essence, Callaloo, the New York Times, TV Guide, and most recently have been anthologized in The Pushcart Press Il (1977), Califia: The California Poetry (1979), and Anthology of Third World Women Writers (1980). Professional and civic affiliations include P.E.N., WGA, DG, AEA, Poets and Writers, National Assn. of Third World Writers, Feminist Art Institute (Board of Directors), Women Against Violence Against Women and Children, NATAS, AFTRA, and national member of American Film Inst. Recipient of Outer Critics' Circle Award, Obie Award, AUDELCO Award, Mademoiselle Award, 1977, for For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf (which was also nominated for a Tony Award and a Grammy Award); Frank Silvera Writers' Workshop (FSWW) Award, 1978; another Obie Award, 1980, for outstanding adaptn. of Mother Courage by Brecht (1980); Guggenheim Fe!lowship for writing, 1981; Los Angeles Times Book Review Award for poetry, for Three Pieces, 1981; Medal of Excellence, Columbia Univ., 1981; New York State Council of the Arts Award, 1981; NEA Fellowship for creative writing, 1981.