For decades books I've read and people I've talked to have urged me to read Audre Lorde. For no particular reason I never got around to it...until now! I sure am glad I finally picked up some of her work, and will surely add more of her titles to my bookshelf. The essays in Sister Outsider are eloquently written, easy to understand, and helpful today; decades after they were written. ( )

As the intersection between racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of dehumanization gain greater attention, I had to read this books. Lorde's life as a Black lesbian mother really is unique. But as she says, she doesn't want to diminish any of those parts by focusing on them. Instead, at its best ("Scratching the Surface: Some Notes on Barriers to Women and Loving", "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House", and "Man Child: A Black Lesbian Feminist's Response") she unpacks how all of those things tie together. A couple of the pieces were almost too poetic for my taste, but that makes sense seeing as how she is a poet. Still, this is inspired writing and should be read. ( )

A powerful book. Two quotes that I like are:

"...we must allow each other our differences at the same time as we recognize our sameness."
And,
"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." ( )

rereading this yet again! ( )

Really insightful, with the core arguments remaining relevant in this day (albeit with different groups of people). Lots to digest, much more than can be done in a single reading. ( )