The Sweet Breath of Life: A Poetic Narrative of the African-American Family

by Ntozake Shange, Kamoinge Inc. (Photographer), Frank Stewart (Editor)

A literary and visual narrative on the identity and representation issues being faced by today's African Americans features photos by a group of acclaimed photographers and text by the writer of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf, in a volume that challenges media stereotypes and shares insight into twenty-first-century black life. 30,000 first printing.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Photography

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2004

About the author

Ntozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) was an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.

Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures that remind me of growing up in Harlem. poetic verses are true to Ntozake Shange’s unique style

[Servane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply gorgeous prose poems and straight forward empathetic black and white photography. Beautiful book.

[Bonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book full of captivation and inspiring photographs, accompanied with poems by Ntozake Shange. I am not usually a fan of colloquial poetry, but most of Shange's poems are thoughtful musings in a voice well suited to the images. One photo of a man waiting forlornly in a crumpled white jacket, holding a bouquet of rough cut roses with a look of longing on his face, becomes all the more endearing with the following:

i'm still holdin those roses
i promised you
the train must be late but
i'ma wait on you anyway
i promised you not to let
you down/ not this time
i'll keepa holdt to this
bouquet till your cheek
is next to mine & where
we are is simply fragile
as another petal of the bouquet
that's really what I want from you
tenderness

The photographs are stunning. One of my favorites is of a pregnant woman frolicking in a thunderstorm naked on a building rooftop. I looked through this many times and will come back to it again.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of images, some of which inspire and are accompanied by Ntozake Shange's gorgeous poetry.

[Shila Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must have coffee table book and a great gift. Actually it's more than coffee table, it highlights an experience. Keep it by the bed, use it for inspiration. Few word and the pics speak volumes.