The creative and imaginative pen of Geroge C. Wolfe "paints" a canvas of honesty through humor and reflection. How often do we get to laugh at ourselves while educating yourself and others? I have used The Colored Museum in teaching liturature to my urban students and it provided a vehicle that allowed them to express a deeper understanding of themselves. Very seldom does that happen.

George C. Wolfe's play details the African-American experience, shocking the reader more and more. This shock is meant to portray the outrage and sheer madness that the situation of blacks in America provokes. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes electrifying and political, this play is a masterwork that attacks various issues in African-American life.

This is a wonderful play for monologues. Charlayne is gifted as a writer and shares childhood...the good along with the bitter side without getting bitter or getting on a soap box. The response from the reader, and the audience when seen in the theatre, is one of breathtaking emotions as we see what Charlayne had to overcome from birth to age 11. Not only that, she does it with style, dignity and pizaaz. I wished I had had her mother and grandmother. I decided her grandfathers were wonderful as well. When you finish "Pretty Fire" you want to read the sequel and you certainly must realize that like Shakespeare, it's meant to be seen on the stage.

THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL! HURSTON IS A WONDERFUL WRITER. IT IS A SHAME THAT SUCH A TALENTED WRITER DID NOT RECEIVE MUCH RECOGNITION UNTIL AFTER HER DEMISE. "THE GILDED SIX-BITS" HAS TO BE THE MOST COMPELLING SHORT STORY WITHIN THIS ANTHOLOGY. IT IS A VIVID TALE THAT TRULY REFLECTS THE POWER OF MONEY. IT ILLUSTRATES THE EXTENT THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL GO TO IN ORDER TO GET THEIR HANDS ON "THE GREEN." SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT DOES REINFORCE THE IDEA THAT "ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD." MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS STORY ILLUSTRATES THE POWER OF LOVE AND THE BEAUTY OF LOYALTY AND "FORGIVENESS." NEVER BEFORE HAVE A READ SUCH A POSITIVE STORY ABOUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN LOVE.