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If I cannot air this pain and alter it, I will surely die of it. That’s the beginning of social protest.

Audre Lorde

For women, then, poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence.
AUDRE LORDE

Existence Luxury Necessary Poetry Women
We must constantly encourage ourselves and each other to attempt the heretical actions that our dreams imply and so many of our old ideas disparage.
AUDRE LORDE

Action Attempt Constant Dreams Encouragement Ideas Ourselves
I am bleak heroism of words that refuse to be buried alive with the liars.
AUDRE LORDE

Bury Heroism Liar Refuse
Sometimes we are blessed with being able to choose the time, and the arena, and the manner of our revolution, but more usually we must do battle where we are standing.
AUDRE LORDE

Arena Battle Blessing Choose Manner Revolution Stand
We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.
AUDRE LORDE

Blind Deep Gratitude
To that piece in each of us that refuses to be silent.
AUDRE LORDE

Pieces Refuse Silence
It’s a struggle but that’s why we exist, so that another generation of Lesbians of color will not have to invent themselves, or their history, all over again.
AUDRE LORDE

Colour Existence Generation History Lesbian Struggle
Unless one lives and loves in the trenches, it is difficult to remember that the war against dehumanization is ceaseless.
AUDRE LORDE

Against Battle Cease Difficult Live Love Remember War
I want to live the rest of my life, however long or short, with as much sweetness as I can decently manage, loving all the people I love, and doing as much as I can of the work I still have to do.
AUDRE LORDE

Decent Life Live Love Management People Sweet Want Work
The more I use my strength in the service of my vision the less I am afraid.
AUDRE LORDE

Afraid Inspirational Service Strength Vision
The oppression of women knows no ethnic nor racial boundaries, true, but that does not mean it is identical within those boundaries.
AUDRE LORDE

Boundary Ethnic Oppression Women
Anger, used, does not destroy. Hatred does.
AUDRE LORDE

Angry Destroy Hatred
Wherever the bird with no feet flew, she found trees with no limbs.
AUDRE LORDE

Bird Deep Fly Inspirational Tree
I wish to raise a Black man who will recognize that the legitimate objects of his hostility are not women, but the particulars of a structure that programs him to fear and despise women as well as his own Black self.
AUDRE LORDE

Black Lives Matter Fear Object Raise Recognize Structure Women
In the recognition of loving lies the answer to despair.
AUDRE LORDE

Despair Love Lying Recognize
I learned so much from listening to people. And all I knew was, the only thing I had was honesty and openness.
AUDRE LORDE

Honesty Learning Listen People

If I cannot air this pain and alter it, I will surely die of it. That’s the beginning of social protest.

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If I cannot air this pain and alter it, I will surely die of it. That’s the beginning of social protest.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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