It was an interesting time, the early 80's, I had just turned 20 & had transferred from Cal State in SF. I was in a couple bands writing my own lyrics to the songs while taking Philosophy, comparative religion & women's studies classes. She was always goading me, giving me prompts, telling me I needed to go deeper, saying how can a pretty young white girl ever really live an artist’s life. I would go home crying. But I really dug deep, & learned a lot about myself & the world.
Aubrey Lorde was a poet, writer and advocate for people of color, the downtrodden, the forgotten, the queer, the developmentally challenged and the homeless and spoke powerfully for them.
I’m a lesbian who does not call herself queer, who does not see it as having a positive sense. That's why your use of the term ‘queer’ is so glaringly inappropriate, and reflects your unexamined ahistorical language.
More like I'm an alien species and I don't have a clue about what I'm seeing. A stranger in a strange land. I often don't understand people at all. That's okay because often people don't understand me. When I was young, not belonging wasn't too far from a death sentence. It still isn't fun but I've figured out how to get by.
I love my body. It is something I understand completely. At last I did until I turned 60 and it started to became unreliable.
I love Lorde so much! Every time I teach a Lit class, I have students compare "The Brown Menace" to "The Rainy Day" and ask which is the better poem -- really gets them agitated. (Spoiler alert: it's Audre Lorde, of course! But I have them hash it out for themselves.) The way she uses language and repetition is just amazing.
Originally it was used derisively against everyone who weren’t heterosexual. Now it seems to be split. Some people in the community think it’s degrading but others have adopted it to be a symbol of pride.
Thanks. I took a class with Audre Lorde at a community college in NY when I was a young woman.
That is enviable!
It was an interesting time, the early 80's, I had just turned 20 & had transferred from Cal State in SF. I was in a couple bands writing my own lyrics to the songs while taking Philosophy, comparative religion & women's studies classes. She was always goading me, giving me prompts, telling me I needed to go deeper, saying how can a pretty young white girl ever really live an artist’s life. I would go home crying. But I really dug deep, & learned a lot about myself & the world.
We do wish to speak out and have been held back for various reasons. It's time.
It is time.
Aubrey Lorde was a poet, writer and advocate for people of color, the downtrodden, the forgotten, the queer, the developmentally challenged and the homeless and spoke powerfully for them.
Only she didn’t use the term ‘queer’. Try being more aware of historical contexts and avoid imposing your ideologies onto others..
I’m queer myself. In the LGBTQI community we use it in a positive sense.
Outta curiosity, how exactly do you define queer in the LGBTQ community?
In my lesbian communities TQ+ ideology is seen as profoundly homophobic.
I’m a lesbian who does not call herself queer, who does not see it as having a positive sense. That's why your use of the term ‘queer’ is so glaringly inappropriate, and reflects your unexamined ahistorical language.
"we were never meant to survive"
That's very powerful. I've often felt that was me. I was in the wrong world.
@Fred, is that like feeling you were born in the wrong body?
More like I'm an alien species and I don't have a clue about what I'm seeing. A stranger in a strange land. I often don't understand people at all. That's okay because often people don't understand me. When I was young, not belonging wasn't too far from a death sentence. It still isn't fun but I've figured out how to get by.
I love my body. It is something I understand completely. At last I did until I turned 60 and it started to became unreliable.
I am profoundly moved by your words.
It is a common lament of the autistic tribe. And sometimes of us nudists.
Oh lordy, lordy, do we need Audre Lorde....
May we speak from curiosity and with the throw rug of connection beneath us. May we stop being scared of each other and our selves.
This is brilliant and beautiful
Grim. Peak Kali Yuga.
Stunning, touches the fiber of my life
Oh!, my heart
Oh my fg
deeply thank you for this, for all
I love Lorde so much! Every time I teach a Lit class, I have students compare "The Brown Menace" to "The Rainy Day" and ask which is the better poem -- really gets them agitated. (Spoiler alert: it's Audre Lorde, of course! But I have them hash it out for themselves.) The way she uses language and repetition is just amazing.
Wow
Wow!! That one hurts and liberates at the same time!! 👏👏👏👏
Truth is like that.
Speak out now for Peace in Gaza.
Originally it was used derisively against everyone who weren’t heterosexual. Now it seems to be split. Some people in the community think it’s degrading but others have adopted it to be a symbol of pride.