by Andrea Gonzales, BC ’22
Art is inherently political, consciously engaged with social conditions and contexts. Art inspires us to become involved, to take another step forward, to find joy despite moments of generational trauma. It allows us to reach across boundaries and share some of the deepest experiences and feelings. However, the art that reflects the unique experiences of Black women is inimitable in its contributions to our communities and to the world as a whole. Two of the Black women that have reshaped our understanding of gender and race are Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison. Both were born on February 18th.
Audre Lorde was authentic with every step she took; in her Blackness, Queerness, and in her roles as a mother, a warrior, and a poet. She was born in New York City in 1934 with her family’s roots in Grenada. Lorde began writing at the age of twelve and had her first poem published in Seventeen magazine while she was still in high school. she was also a professor who taught in CUNY’s SEEK Program. Her writings not only reflect her identities, but they also reflected the larger movement to discuss the oppression and violence of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. Her writings develop feminist, race, and Queer theories and they articulated intersections of race, gender, and class. She also co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press with Barbara Smith to uplift the writing of Black feminists.
Born only three years before Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison also used her writing to give voice to Black women. Her experiences with racial violence and discrimination in her hometown, as well in her rich undergraduate experience at Howard University influenced her focus on the diversity of Black experiences. In her career as an editor, she advocated for the publishing of some of the twentieth century’s most influential Black women writers, including works by Toni Cade Bambara, Angela Y. Davis, and Gayle Jones. Morrison’s books The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, and Beloved, all continue to be essential reading.
GET INVOLVED: BLACK GIRLS WHO WRITE
Both of these incredible Black women inspired generations of writers. Their stories, essays, and poems are healing, especially considering the ways in which they inscribes stories of Black women into our shared memories and histories. Their legacies inspire us to keep dreaming of better futures.