A New Spelling of My Name

 Word Count: 250 words 

Audre Lorde was a great example of overcoming lots of adversity by being legally blind at birth and then overcoming lack of love from family members. Lorde was African American facing racism on top of the other troubles she faced. Her mother was essential in making sure her daughters did not notice or feel the segregation that life threw at them, because she wanted to instill power and confidence in her daughters. She says, “I remember how being young and Black and gay and lonely felt. A lot of it was fine, feeling I had the truth and the light and the key, but a lot of it was purely hell.” This instilled in her a sense of overcoming, no matter where she went she decided she needed to be an example for other black women who may potentially feel overlooked in life. 

She also stated, “Any world which did not have a place for me loving women was not a world in which I wanted to live, nor one which I could fight for.” She did not hesitate to love the people that she loved even if it were to upset some people or make them uncomfortable. She simply did not care for outside perspectives because she wanted to live life in the way she felt comfortable with. She became a progressive woman who traveled to new and different places that she could make a difference in. She saw from her mother how strong she was able to be.