#BlackLivesMatter - Audre Lorde’s Lasting Impact on My Soul
A college mentor introduced me to Audre Lorde (1934 – 1992), 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, heterosexism, and homophobia.
Her prose, passion and sheer force of vulnerability to make change resonated deeply. Her words would get stuck in my head, as I tried to unravel my place in our global community — both my privileged arrival and the positive voice and contributor I could be to demonstrate the power of diversity and develop new tools to “dismantle the masters house”.
A decade later and her voice is helping me once again, this week to focus my heartbroken, angry, uncomfortable thoughts into greater positive actions I can take - as an individual, life/career/biz coach and small business owner - to change the systems and Denver community I touch and to walk the talk of anti-racism (including voting out racist leadership and in more police reform and swift accountability, taking extra tender care of and standing up for my BIPOC neighbors and friends, holding courageous spaces for my clients, continuing to check my assumptions...).
Because the embedded, systematic racism in this country and world is {wrong, awful, heart-wrenching, murder} and I am dedicated to it’s re-imagination for a new, healthy society for all.
As Lorde said, "Divide and conquer, in our world, must become, define and empower."
That is what I am here for.
I hear you. I see you. I love you. I fight for you.
