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49 pages 1 hour read

The Colored Museum

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1987

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Book Brief

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George C. Wolfe

The Colored Museum

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1987
Book Details
Pages

62

Format

Play • Fiction

Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

NP

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Super Short Summary

The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe is a satirical play set in a fictional museum featuring 11 exhibits that explore African American identity through sketches performed by an ensemble of five Black actors. The play addresses themes such as slavery, stereotypes, generational trauma, and intracommunal conflict using direct audience address, monologues, short scenes, and musical elements. Topics include racialized language and outdated terms related to intellectual disability.

Humorous

Contemplative

Dark

Reviews & Readership

4.5

787 ratings

83%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

George C. Wolfe’s The Colored Museum is celebrated for its sharp satire and incisive critique of African American culture and history. Acclaimed for its bold humor and poignant social commentary, it challenges stereotypes and provokes thought. However, some critics argue it can be too confrontational for certain audiences. Overall, it’s a powerful and thought-provoking work.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Colored Museum?

A reader who relishes satirical, poignant explorations of African American culture and history will enjoy George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum. Similar audiences appreciate the bold narratives in works like Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man or Ishmael Reed's Mumbo Jumbo due to their critical examination of racial and cultural identity.

4.5

787 ratings

83%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

62

Format

Play • Fiction

Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

NP

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