Audre Lorde: Poetry, Resistance, Justice

". . . and that is the work of the poet within each one of us; to envision what has not been and work with every fiber of who we are to make the reality and pursuit of that vision irresistible."

Audre Lorde wasn’t just a writer; she was a force of nature—a relentless advocate for justice whose words shook the foundations of oppression and lit a fire under those willing to confront it. A "Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet," she embodied the belief that poetry—and the poet within each of us—is not simply an act of creation but a tool of resistance, transformation, and vision. Her 1981 speech at the National Women's Studies Association Conference wasn’t merely a critique of the status quo; it was a rallying cry, a framework for action, and a bold reclamation of an emotion often dismissed, especially when wielded by Black women. It forced a predominantly white feminist audience to confront their complicity in racism and exclusion.

Her speech, “The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism,” was a fiery call to action, challenging societal norms and inviting listeners to reconsider the power of suppressed emotions as a force for transformation. Anger, she declared, was not something to silence or fear—it was a tool for clarity, a source of power, and a path to transformation.


At a time when anger—particularly from marginalized communities—was seen as dangerous or disruptive, Lorde reframed it as a catalyst for justice. This defining moment in feminist and anti-racist discourse encapsulated the cultural shifts Lorde not only witnessed but actively shaped through her relentless work. To understand its impact, we must rewind to the roots of the woman who gave it—a life shaped by resilience, defiance, and an uncompromising refusal to conform.

Resilience — The Birth of a Warrior-Poet

Audre Lorde was born in Harlem in 1934, the daughter of Caribbean immigrant parents—her father from Barbados, her mother from Grenada—during the depths of the Great Depression. Her parents, striving to carve a life in a racially stratified society, instilled in her a deep cultural pride and an unrelenting work ethic. Yet these traditional values often clashed with Lorde’s growing understanding of herself as a queer Black woman navigating the complexities of a divided America.


Lorde's childhood was marked by battles both external and internal. Legally blind and struggling to find acceptance, she turned to words for solace. Poetry became her sanctuary and rebellion. Before she could even write, she memorized poems, wielding language as both a shield against a hostile world and a sword to carve out her place within it. Through her writing, she gave voice to the contradictions that shaped her: the pride instilled by her heritage, the alienation of marginalization, and the strength found in vulnerability.

The Poet as Activist


Audre Lorde’s journey as a writer and activist began during her time at Hunter College High School, where she first learned to wield language as a tool for empowerment. Later, at Columbia University, she studied library science—a field that nurtured her love of knowledge while sharpening her ability to connect people with ideas. During this time, her poetry began to evolve, moving beyond personal catharsis to become a medium for confronting societal injustices and amplifying marginalized voices. Each poem, each line, was a step toward honing a voice that would confront oppression with precision and purpose.

Her writing was unflinching, sharp, and unapologetically direct. In groundbreaking works like "Sister Outsider" and "The Black Unicorn", she interrogated the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class. Long before Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality" in 1989, Lorde lived it, writing unapologetically about the ways these overlapping identities shaped the experiences of marginalized people.


Her words were sharp, unyielding, and transformative. Lorde not only named the oppressions she faced—she dismantled them, piece by piece. In essays, speeches, and poetry, she demanded accountability, not just from those directly responsible for systemic injustice but from allies whose silence enabled it.

Poetry as a Tool for Reckoning


For Audre Lorde, poetry was not merely an art form but a force for resistance, clarity, and action. She saw it as a means to articulate the unspeakable and as a weapon to confront injustice head-on. In works like "The Black Unicorn" and "Coal", Lorde challenged reductive narratives about marginalized identities. Her vivid, often visceral language created a bridge between the personal and political, reminding readers that systemic issues are lived realities for individuals.


Lorde described poetry as “the skeleton architecture of our lives,” a framework that could envision liberation while also demanding it. Poetry, she argued, could distill the complexities of oppression into accessible, emotionally resonant truths. Lines like “we were never meant to survive” from "A Litany for Survival" created solidarity among the silenced, turning abstract oppression into a visceral reckoning. Through her words, Lorde gave voice to those excluded from mainstream narratives, inspiring action not only through empathy but through a deep sense of accountability.


Poetry’s power lies in its ability to evoke emotional truths while leaving space for reflection. This combination of urgency and introspection was central to Lorde’s work, reaching beyond academic or elite circles to inspire grassroots movements. Her words demanded not just awareness but action, making her work a cornerstone in the fight for equity and justice.

The Charged Atmosphere of the 1981 NWSA Conference

By the time Audre Lorde took the stage at the National Women’s Studies Association Conference in 1981, her work had already reshaped how poetry and activism intertwined. Her words had become a tool for reckoning, challenging systems of oppression and offering a framework for change. But this moment was not about reflecting on past achievements—it was a challenge to the present.


The NWSA Conference was intended as a space for feminist solidarity, but Lorde used her speech, The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism, to confront the glaring exclusions within the movement. Feminism, as it stood, often marginalized women of color, queer women, and working-class women. Lorde’s presence and words turned this gathering into a pivotal moment of reckoning, one that demanded her audience confront their own complicity in systemic inequities.

Lorde’s speech reframed anger as a vital force for change, calling it “loaded with information and energy.” She urged her audience to reject the fear of anger, especially the anger of marginalized people, and instead see it as a source of clarity and accountability. In a world accustomed to silencing anger—particularly from Black women—her words were radical, empowering, and deeply uncomfortable for many in attendance. Yet, this discomfort was the point. Lorde was not there to affirm; she was there to provoke, to demand growth, and to insist that the feminist movement rise to its highest ideals.

A Vision of Change


. . . and that is the work of the poet within each one of us; to envision what has not been and work with every fiber of who we are to make the reality and pursuit of that vision irresistible."

In "The Uses of Anger", Lorde reframed anger as the emotional equivalent of this poetic vision. Anger sharpens focus, fuels action, and reveals opportunities for change. For her audience, the challenge wasn’t just to recognize anger as valid but to act on the truths it revealed. The poet’s work is to take what is seen—the injustice, the exclusion, the pain—and transform it into something undeniable and irresistible. Lorde’s speech called on every attendee to embrace this responsibility, not just as feminists but as humans striving for equity.

These words gain even more weight when viewed through the lens of the day’s context. Lorde was speaking to an audience that had, in many ways, failed her. Yet, she did not retreat into condemnation alone. Instead, she offered a vision—of poetry, of anger, of action—to bridge gaps and create a more inclusive, effective movement. The “poet within” was not a distant ideal but a call to work, to envision and pursue justice with every fiber of being.

Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet.