Born February 18th, 1934, in Harlem, New York, Audre Lorde was an outspoken advocate during her time when she experienced homophobia, sexism, and racism. Through teaching college, writing poetry about police brutality, Audre looked to dismantle the systems that oppress her people. Lorde embraced her incredible identities and learned to express herself through poetry, especially during a time when Black people were facing injustices across America and the world. She breathed, spoke, and memorized poetry, while facing oppression as a black, queer woman in primarily white academia. Lorde believed that women were dangerously powerful when they rose above anything they went through.
And so, in honor of her legacy, we bring you 14 of our favorite quotes from Audre Lorde that show her strength, guidance, and love for the communities she fought for.
Rising Above Oppression
Women in every generation have continuously faced injustice through sexist ideologies and decisions. For Lorde to say she is not free, she stands firmly within this community and bears the burden as well.
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
Ongoing Revolution
Revolution and change don’t simply happen once. To make substantial change, we have to work harder and create a chain of advocacy.
“Revolution is not a one-time event.”
Peaceful Existence
Audre puts the shoe on the other foot here by expressing that Black people cannot profit from the oppression of any other group, so why should racist white people profit off of black oppression?
“I know that my people cannot possibly profit from the oppression of any other group which seeks the right to peaceful existence.”
Speaking Truth: Sharing Triumphs and Pain
It’s so easy to focus on all of the beauties of life. However, if we don’t recognize the pain, then we can’t grow as individuals. This seems to be why Lorde chooses to learn and grow through recognizing, embracing, and overcoming pain.
“I have a duty to speak the truth as I see it and to share not just my triumphs — not just the things that felt good — but the pain, the intense, often unmitigating pain.”
Personal Visions for Change
Personal visions are ones built on educating ourselves about the world and making well-informed decisions for the people we stand up for. This then sparks actively positive, political action.
“In a world of possibility for us all, our personal visions help lay the groundwork for political action.”
Being Different Is a Blessing
The raw power Audre talks about here is the power that comes from embracing individuality and accepting that you will not change yourself or your identity. You can be different, and that is beautiful.
“Difference is that raw and powerful connection from which our personal power is forged.”
Change Your Mindset
It is so easy for people to focus on control: controlling every aspect of reality we can. However, this just isn’t true. You can only change your outlook, and not the outward appearance of life.
“If you can’t change reality, change your perceptions of it.”
Appreciate Contradiction
When you face situations that you aren’t comfortable with, or you are contradicted in your beliefs, you have to be comfortable with this discomfort. Otherwise, you never learn to become a better person.
“Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat.”
Say What You Mean
If there are subjects that seem so ugly or scary to the public, they absolutely should be spoken. Audre is saying here that regardless of the outcome, if you know your truth, that is all that matters because someone will care.
“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.”
Silence Does Not Change Anything
Choosing silence over action may sound like peace, but it doesn’t feel that way because you actively choose to do nothing. Audre is saying that if you truly want to be an active person in the world, you need to speak out and take action.
“Your silence will not protect you.”
Classism and Sexism
Women have constantly been put on the sidelines for this idea that they can’t achieve what men or other people can achieve. when we do not acknowledge class or gender differences, women and their suppressed skills and abilities will continue to be tucked away.
“Unacknowledged class differences rob women of each others’ energy and creative insight.”
Powerful and Unafraid
Audre mentions service here in the sense that by choosing to use dedication to her mission, her service is powerful which cements that she will always be strong. She is now never afraid because she has gone through so much in her life, and her courage empowered her.
“When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision—then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
The Stages of Pain
Audre Lorde says that pain is important because we need to rationalize and process it through all the steps. By doing so, you overcome the hardest parts of life and become a stronger person.
“Pain is important: how we evade it, how we succumb to it, how we deal with it, how we transcend it.”
Knowledge Through Feelings
Here, Audre says that our feelings chart a path to understanding the concept of humanity. What the human experience is, the Black experience, and LGBTQA+ experience is, is contingent on how we feel for them, how to help raise awareness and act with them.
“Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.”
Audre Lorde has shown us as an activist, educator, and feminist that to reach a peaceful place, we must overcome challenges to get there. This also means acting against the systems put in place and having a clear vision for change. We hope you enjoyed these life-changing quotes from Audre Lorde, and that you can start inciting change.
For more amazing Black authors, read about the Pioneers of Prose: A Celebration of Black Authors Who’ve Changed Literature.
Read these books and more on our Hooray For Representation: LGBTQ Voices bookshelf on Bookshop!
