audre lorde
what is it
Audre Lorde was an influential writer, feminist, and civil rights activist, known for her incisive exploration of the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality. Lorde's approach to social change is rooted in the belief that our differences are not just to be tolerated but celebrated as sources of strength and diversity. She emphasized the importance of speaking out, insisting that silence will not protect us. Her approach involves confronting injustices, acknowledging personal and collective identities, and using one's voice as a tool for change.
How it inspires us
Incorporating Audre Lorde's principles into the Social Good Collective’s ethos enriches the organization’s approach to social change. It aligns with the goal of creating a more inclusive, aware, and active community that not only acknowledges but also leverages its diversity as a potent tool for societal transformation.
Embracing Intersectionality: Lorde's emphasis on intersectionality is crucial for the Social Good Collective, encouraging an understanding of how various forms of social inequality and identity interconnect and impact social activism.
Power of Voice and Visibility: Audre Lorde championed the idea that everyone should use their voice for advocacy, aligning with the Collective's goal to empower individuals to speak up and engage in societal issues.
Learning from Differences: Her belief in the strength of diversity guides the Collective's approach to create a space where diverse perspectives are not just included but are integral to the process of social change.
Fostering Inclusive Communities: Lorde's principles support the Collective’s mission to build inclusive communities that recognize and celebrate differences, fostering environments where all members can thrive and contribute.
Unity in Diversity: The Path to Liberation
"Without community, there is no liberation, only the most vulnerable and temporary armistice between an individual and her oppression. But community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist."
Redefining Change: Beyond Traditional Approaches
"For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change."
Embracing Diversity: Celebrating Our Differences
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."
Self-Care as Resistance Empowering Personal Well-Being
"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."
Courage in Speaking: Voicing the Unheard
and when we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed but when we are silent we are still afraid. So it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive.
Interconnected Liberation: Our Collective Struggle
"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one person of Color remains chained. Nor is anyone of you."