Audre Lorde´s Essays and Speeches

´The oppression of women knows no ethnic nor racial boundaries, true, but that does not mean it is identical within those differences´.

Reading the prose of a poet is not only a different intellectual experience but also offers access to layers of understanding of the author´s work which is revelatory for the literary personality and its realm. Sister Outsider is a collection of 15 essays and speeches by Audre Lorde, covering mostly engaged discourses on behalf of the militant Black feminism but also two interesting travel stories from the Soviet Union, respectively Grenada. The main topic is not necessarily relevant as it is no surprise that Lorde was a Lesbian Black Feminist involved in the fight for social rights and equality, but the verbal expression of her militantism. 

Sister Outsider clarifies the social and economic context of her poetry, the personal nuances and the historical details of the social involvement. And, first and foremost, how the discourse articulates and what are its verbs. How meaningful coalitions can be created. 

If the Black story is a story of survival, a Lesbian Black Feminist is struggling to survive within the own community and outside in the majority. The nuances that are so clearly and firmly stated in this collection of essays and speeches are noteworthy for understanding the roots of her poetry and the meaning(s) of her public discourse. 

As for the two travel reports, I was less impressed, as the ideological imprints are too clear and stated on purpose therefore diminishes the creativity and spontaneity of the writing.