Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde was a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” Lorde was born in 1934 and died in 1992, and the bulk of her output came between the years of 1970 and 1990. She is best known as a leading voice in contemporary feminist thought and literature. Significantly, she attacked white women for their complicit role in the patriarchy of society. Among her peers, she was viewed with an amount of disdain, as her views were very accusatory and confrontational. She very controversially equated white feminists with white slave-masters, claiming that their failure to acknowledge the differences among women simply continued traditions of oppression.

A better way to describe these differences is this: the experience of black women is necessarily different from white women. However, white women are considered the “normal” subset of women and black women are considered the “outsiders” even within the gender. Also, lesbians are considered “outsiders” within the construct of feminism. It is these separations that Lorde argued against. She sought to validate the experience of all women, black, white, lesbian, straight, etc. Unfortunately, the critics of her theories believed that by calling out feminists who were guilty of these generalizations, she would not help to unite those fighting for similar causes. It was thought that despite the common goal, infighting and personal vendettas would mar the ideal instead of promote it.

After Lorde’s death, an organization was formed in New York to promote progressive ideas among queer people of color. The center, called the Audre Lorde Project, is an important part of LGBT activism in America.

This counts for Week 5, I swear!

Again it failed to be mentioned in class (partially my fault, I neglected to speak up) that Kindred’s present-day storyline takes place in 1976. I think the significance of this cannot be overlooked. Our class touched on many excellent points regarding the importance of Dana’s arm being severed during her final return to the present. However, I feel like the bicentennial year cannot be ignored. The severing of her arm represents the mark that slavery leaves, both literally and symbolically, in the form of physical scars and emotional pain, on its victims. Despite being safe and secure back in 1976, she is reminded constantly of slavery’s cost. I think it is particularly poignant that Butler set this novel in 1976 because of the bicentennial, as I mentioned in my last post. Obviously I was not alive then, but from what I’ve learned the celebrations were lavish. I think Butler also has Dana’s final journey take place on July 4. Hmm. The juxtaposition of the horrors of slavery with the blind patriotism that a bicentennial celebration inspires shows us how little we talk about the systems that built this country in the first place. With all the talk of democracy, freedom, liberty and justice for all, it is still shocking, to me at least, just how hypocritical the American rhetoric is. Perhaps it is just the pinko commie liberal-progressive in me, but whenever I hear someone spouting the virtues of our just, moral American system, I cannot help but feel a little bit embarrassed.

I think Kindred helps us remember the values that this country was founded on. Values that we cannot continue to sweep under the rug in the name of freedom and prosperity.