Audre Lorde's Essay

Audre Lorde had a lot of teachers that she acknowledged in her writing.  Most of those who inspired, taught, or influenced her were women. Her Mother was one of the first teachers in her life.  She described her Mother as “a very powerful woman.”(pg. 15, Zami)  She taught her about her approach to perceiving reality.  Lorde wrote, “It was so often her approach to the world; to change reality.  If you can’t change reality, change your perception of it.” That is how her Mother dealt with things like when white people spit at her children because they were black. She interpreted it as them not spitting at her children, but how the wind moved the spit by accident to hit her children. The second woman who taught her was the local librarian, Mrs. Augusta Baker.  She taught her to love reading.  Lorde states, “By the time she had finished that one, I was sold on reading for the rest of my life.” (pg. 23, Zami) She took the time to read her two stories, which changed her life.  The third person who taught her was Sister Mary at Catholic School.  She taught her about discrimination.  She separated students into Brownies and Fairies. Audre Lorde worked hard in school to be part of the Fairies.    

 

Omar