Today In Black History: Audre Lorde
Award-winning American writer, professor, philosopher, intersectional feminist, poet, and civil rights activist
Issue #797 Today In Black History, Wednesday, January 29, 2025
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Audre Lorde was born in New York City on February 18, 1934, to West Indian immigrant parents. She described herself as “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.”
Ms. Lorde's work is characterized by its exploration of identity, intersectionality, and the interlocking systems of oppression—groundbreaking topics in the 20th century. Her poetry volumes, including "The Black Unicorn" and "Our Dead Behind Us," and her prose, such as the seminal "Sister Outsider," address themes of race, gender, sexuality, and class with unflinching honesty and profound insight.
Ms. Lorde's ability to articulate the nuances of intersectionality has made her a pivotal figure in both feminist and civil rights movements. She challenged the feminist movement of her time to expand its scope beyond white, middle-class issues, highlighting the unique struggles faced by women of color and advocating for a more inclusive and intersectional approach.
Audre Lorde, an internationally recognized activist and artist, received many honors and awards, including the Walt Whitman Citation of Merit, which conferred the mantle of New York State poet for 1991-93.
Ms. Lorde’s other awards include the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Poetry and the American Book Award.
In designating her New York State Poet Laureate, Governor Mario Cuomo observed: “A sharp sense of racial injustice and cruelty, of sexual prejudice charges her imagination…She cries out against it as the voice of indignant humanity. Audre Lorde is the voice of the eloquent outsider who speaks in a language that can reach and touch people everywhere.”
Audre Lorde's emphasis on self-identification and embracing one's differences as a source of strength remains vital today, and her perspectives serve as both a foundation and a challenge to keep pushing forward.
Institutions such as The Audre Lorde Project, a community organizing center for LGBTQ+ people of color, continue to advance her vision by fostering leadership and resilience within marginalized communities. Lorde’s emphasis on community and collective action underscores the ongoing fight for social justice she championed throughout her life.
Audre Lorde died on November 17, 1992 (age 58 years) in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Today In Black History
In 1850, Kentucky Senator Henry Clay drafted the Compromise of 1850 to defuse tensions between the slave states and free states over territories won during the Mexican-American War.
In 1926, Violette Neatley Anderson became the first African American woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1969, Patricia Roberts Harris was named Dean of Howard University’s Law School.
In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating renowned Black chemist Dr. Percy Lavon Julian.
In 2006, the U.S. Postal Service released a 39-cent stamp featuring Academy Award-winning actor Hattie McDaniel.
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Pamela and Keth, always appreciate your posts. Especially like this one on Lorde -- but to die so young....