If you look at the homepage, you will notice under the site's name it is stated that this site is "for those who know poetry is not a luxury." This is a direct reference to Lorde's essay of a similar name: "Poetry is not a Luxury." This essay launched me in the direction of beginning this website. It is only fitting that Lorde receives one of the first poetry spotlights.
Audre Lorde is a Black woman, a mother, a lesbian, a warrior, and a poet. She described herself in all of these ways, embracing all their contradictions and intersections. For example, in her poem "Who Said it was Simple" she writes:
But I who am bound by my mirror
as well as my bed
see causes in colour
as well as sex
and sit here wondering
which me will survive
all these liberations.
(1975)
This reflection refers to the numerous movements occurring in this time period in which Lorde fit: movements for equal rights among all races, genders, and sexualities. All connected to what she calls the "tree of anger," or the oppressor. All of these roots are connected to a long history of white supremacy, patriarchy, exploitation, and greed. In these stanzas, the reader can see Lorde process the intersectionality of her identities-- some contradicting, some condemning the other parts of her, no movement fully accepting every identity. So much so that she wonders after splitting herself into sections, which version of her will survive the fight for liberty. So odd to reflect on survival in a time that promoted of progress and freedom.
The 21st century has had its host of movements as well, and in the midst of those movements are people like Lorde wondering which parts of themselves they have to omit to fit within the liberation. An example of this is transphobia within the LGBTQ+ community. Logan Graves, a writer for the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, reports on the lack of representation of trans people and infighting within the community. Transgender activist and Stonewall veteran Miss Major Griffin-Gracy said in an interview with Jessica Stern, I feel like we’ve been pushed to the outside and then prevented from looking in. It’s the stares, the noninclusion over decision-making, exclusion from events that would build this movement. I think if they could eradicate us, they would.” Like Lorde, Miss Major expresses having to decide between identities to fit within movements that promise liberation.
To read Audre Lorde’s full poem “Who Said It Was Simple,” visit the Poetry Foundation using the link below:
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