Welcome to the liturgist podcast.

You are now listening to Black History is American History.

I'm William Matthews.

And I'm propaganda.

I'm Nikki Black.

And I'm Andre Henry.

Today's moment in Black History, Audrey Lorde.

Audrey Lorde, born Audrey Geraldine Lorde February 18, 1934,

was an American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian,

and civil rights activist.

As a child, Lorde struggled with communication

and came to appreciate the power of poetry as a form of expression.

In fact, she describes herself as thinking in poetry.

She also memorized a great deal of poetry

and would use it to communicate to the extent that,

if asked how she was feeling, Audrey would reply by reciting a poem.

Around the age of 12, she began writing her own poetry

and connecting with others at her school

who were considered outcasts as she felt she was.

As a poet, she is best known for technical mastery

and emotional expression as well as her poems

that express anger and outrage at civil and social injustices.

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