About
Audre Lorde, born in Harlem to Grenadian immigrant parents, was a Black feminist poet, essayist, and activist. Self-described as 'Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,' she explored the intersections of race, gender, class, and sexuality in her work. After studying at Hunter College and Columbia, she worked as a librarian before teaching. Her major collections include Coal, The Black Unicorn, and Zami, a 'biomythography.' Her essay 'The Master's Tools Will Not Dismantle the Master's House' is a foundational text of Black feminism. She co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press and served as New York State Poet.
* 1934-02-18 — † 1992-11-17
Major works
- The First Cities (1968)poetry
- Coal (1976)poetry
- The Black Unicorn (1978)poetry
- The Cancer Journals (1980)essay
- Zami: A New Spelling of My Name (1982)biomythography
Key milestones
- 1980Co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press
- 1988A Burst of Light wins the National Book Award
- 1991Named New York State Poet
Themes
IntersectionalityBlack feminismLesbian identityIllness and the bodySocial justice
Sources: id.loc.gov · poetryfoundation.org