Biographie
Audre Lorde, a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet”, dedicated her life and talent to confronting the injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. Poetry was Lorde’s language from the beginning; as a child she would memorize poems and use lines from them in her daily exchanges. The poems would contain a feeling she wanted to express and when they weren’t enough to convey her meaning Lorde began writing her own poetry at the age of 12. She was first published in the magazine Seventeen while still in high school. Lorde went on teach poetry and to become a prominent voice in feminist theory, critical race studies, and queer theory. Her poetry is known for the power of its call for social and racial justice, and for its depictions of queer experience and sexuality. Lorde’s many honors and awards include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. A professor of English at John Jay College and Hunter College, Lorde was poet laureate of New York from 1991-1992.
