49 pages • 1 hour read
George C. WolfeThe Colored Museum
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1987A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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 Topics include racialized language and outdated terms related to intellectual disability.
Reviews & Readership
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 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.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
NPBook Details
Play: Comedy / Satire
African American Literature
Race / Racism
Identity: Race
Identity: Sexuality
Society: Community