[Speaking] is never without fear; of visibility, of the harsh light of scrutiny and perhaps judgment, of pain, of death. But we have lived through all of those already, in silence, except death. And I remind myself all the time now, that if I were to have been born mute, and had maintained an oath of silence my whole life for safety, I would still have suffered, and I would still die.
Audre LordeAttend me, hold me in your muscular flowering arms, protect me from throwing any part of myself away.
Audre LordeLearning not to crumple before these uncertainties fuels my resolve to print myself upon the texture of each day fully rather than forever.
Audre LordeI started writing because I had a need inside of me to create something that was not there
Audre Lorde