Brief
Folger Library opens exhibit tracing Black women’s engagement with Shakespeare
Curated by Dr Patricia Akhimie, the exhibit features nearly 100 objects and interactive displays.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. opened "To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare," an exhibition that surveys more than 400 years of Black women’s interaction with the Bard, the Guardian reported on October 18.
What happened
The exhibition, curated by Dr Patricia Akhimie, director of the Folger Institute, presents almost 100 items – photographs, playbills, books, diaries, illustrations and costumes – alongside video displays of notable Black actresses performing Shakespeare. A replica of playwright Lorraine Hansberry’s living‑room, based on a 1959 Vogue photo spread, is also included. The show is the product of over two years of research and is described as both immersive and interactive.
What the reports add
The Guardian notes that the exhibit is the first comprehensive look at how Black women have claimed and re‑imagined Shakespeare’s works through scholarship and craft. It quotes Akhimie saying the project is "a performance [and theater] history but it’s also an intellectual history about Black women as writers and artists pulling from Shakespeare to do new and amazing things." The article also references Maya Angelou’s 1985 claim that Shakespeare was a Black woman, linking her personal connection to the broader cultural resonance explored in the exhibit.
What was said
Dr Patricia Akhimie told the Guardian, "It’s a performance [and theater] history but it’s also an intellectual history about Black women as writers and artists pulling from Shakespeare to do new and amazing things." Maya Angelou’s 1985 speech is quoted in the piece, with Angelou declaring, "Of course he wrote it for me… Nobody else understands it, but I know that William Shakespeare was a Black woman."
How it came about
The exhibition builds on decades of academic work examining the intersection of Black culture and Shakespeare, a theme previously highlighted in Felo News’ coverage of Black community initiatives during Black History Month (Black History Month: Community Groups Empower Black Professionals and Runners). The Folger’s extensive Shakespeare collection provides a unique venue for this new narrative.
Key facts
- The Folger Shakespeare Library opened "To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare" in Washington, D.C. (theguardian.com)
- The exhibit was curated by Dr Patricia Akhimie, director of the Folger Institute. (theguardian.com)
- It features nearly 100 items, including photographs, playbills, books, diaries, illustrations, costumes and video displays. (theguardian.com)
- A replica of Lorraine Hansberry’s living‑room is part of the installation. (theguardian.com)
- Maya Angelou’s 1985 claim that Shakespeare was a Black woman is highlighted in the exhibit’s narrative. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “‘Shakespeare was a Black woman’: the playwright’s under-recognized connection to Black culture”
