Audre Lorde

Date of Birth: February 18, 1934

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: November 17, 1992

Biography

Audre Lorde was an influential American poet, essayist, librarian, and civil rights activist, known for her powerful voice on issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation. Born as Audrey Geraldine Lorde on February 18, 1934, in New York City to Caribbean immigrant parents, she displayed a passion for writing from an early age. Lorde attended Hunter College and later earned a Master’s degree in library science from Columbia University. Her literary work, which includes poetry collections such as “The Black Unicorn” and “Coal,” as well as her seminal essay collection “Sister Outsider,” delves deeply into the intersections of her identity as a Black lesbian feminist. Lorde’s works have inspired generations of activists and writers to challenge oppressive systems and advocate for social justice. She passed away on November 17, 1992, due to liver cancer, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the literary and activist communities.

5 Interesting Facts about Audre Lorde

1. Audre Lorde was the New York State Poet Laureate from 1991 to 1992.

2. She co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, the first publishing house for women of color in the United States.

3. Lorde’s poem, “Power,” was written in response to the acquittal of a white police officer who shot a ten-year-old Black boy.

4. She described herself as a “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.”

5. Lorde’s work has been the subject of numerous academic studies and has been included in various curricula around the world.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Audre Lorde

1. “Your silence will not protect you.”

2. “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”

3. “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.”

4. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

5. “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.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Audre Lorde’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, but her greatest wealth lies in her substantial influence and contributions to literature and social justice.