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Wisdom of an Outsider: Reading Audre Lorde

Published: April 8, 2022; Aithor: Julia Sonrisa

Wisdom of an Outsider: Reading Audre is an opportunity to explore Lorde’s work and apply some of the tools she has left for us.

Sista Docta Alexia Pauline Gumbs concludes her poetic intervention “Happy Birthday Audre: A Woven Poem” with the lines:

Everpresent wisdom reverberating always

Audre

It is with this intent, recognizing the wisdom of Audre Lorde, that we host this bi-weekly reading and disscussion group.

Our belief that people desire opportunities to read and discuss relevant, challenging texts together was validated by our last Reading & Discussion group: James Baldwin and Us. The issues Lorde focuses on—the multifaceted nature of identity, racism, sexism and violence—are still very much with us. Like Baldwin, Lorde is often quoted in the public sphere, on tee-shirts and billboards, but not as often are her texts studied in their entirety, especially her essays and speeches. Recognizing that we all carry multiple identities allowed Lorde to see the possibility of people working together across differences. This is the vision we very much need today.

There are limited opportunities for a diverse group of individuals to gather to read and discuss texts that challenge us but also shed new light on our current reality. Interdisciplinary scholar Aiesha Turman is able to easily link what is happening now to the issues/questions explored in the texts and to lead us into a deep, rich conversation. She knows how to bring together a diverse group of individuals through an idea that touches all of us.

Audre Lorde did not silence herself or allow herself to be silenced. There is much we can learn from her example.

Our readings for each session are:

• Poetry is Not a Luxury (SO*); Intro to chapter 2 (Zami)
• The Transformation of Silence into Action (SO); Chapters 3-6 (Zami)
• Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power (SO); Chapters 27-30 (Zami)
• The Master’s Tools will Never Dismantle the Master’s House (SO); Chapters 31-Epilogue (Zami)
• Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Defining Difference (SO)
• The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism (SO)
• *SO is Sister Outsider.

Attendees can participate in-person or online via Zoom.

The texts we will be utilizing are Zami and Sister Outsider. The books can be found at local libraries, or purchased online via The Lit. Bar: Bookstore and Chill, a Black-woman owned bookstore in the Bronx, NY. Limited copies will be available to borrow at Bailey’s Cafe for those who are attending in person.

Before the first session, please make sure to:

• Grab the texts, Zami + Sister Outsider as soon as you can from the link above or your local library
• Read the required text/s prior to each session
• Come with questions, comments, and all of your ideas

Sponsored by Humanities NY.

Registration

Time: 7:00 pm — 9:00 pm

Free!

Detailed information and discussion of the event.