Audre Lorde Quotes
For within livin structures defined by profit, by linear power, by institutional dehumanization, our feelings were not meant to survive. Kept around as unavoidable adjuncts or pleasant pastimes, our feelings were expected to kneel to thought as women were expected to kneel to men. But women have survived. As poets.
Lorde, Audre. "Poetry Is Not a Luxury." Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, Crossing Press, 1984, p. 39.
This view is very similar to that of some of the religious fundamentalists in America who would oppose most of the other Nazi doctrines.
In the Nez Perce and most other Native American societies, there were Chiefs and occasionally, for special circumstances, War Chiefs, but few if any other officials, thus producing a very flat, egalitarian society. But the whites had many layers of bureaucrats and petty officials. Governors, The President, Members of Congress, State Legislators, Generals, Sheriffs, Indian Agents, tax collectors, and the like. On the Papago Indian reservation, there was great difficulty on a construction project as even the concept of a work foreman was an uncomfortable notion. No Papago wanted to be directed or ordered about by anyone else even on a work gang. And do no one wanted to assume a position of authority or be responsive to a fellow other than the Chief and the tribal elders.
She was one of the first prominent white Southerners to denounce racial segregation. However, her view was the “equality” argument just made the Southern whites more recalcitrant. Many white Southerners were willing to end segregation as it was un Christian and unfair, but were not willing to give up the image that they were superior. Others argued that unless they did give up the notion, segregation could never be ended.
Audre Lorde was an American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist. She was a self-described "Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," who dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, capitalism, heterosexism, and homophobia.
