DIVA spoke to the organisers of Audre Lorde Day – Veronica McKenzie, Femi Otitoju, and Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John – about the impact of the iconic activist
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY FLICKR
“I am black because I come from the earth’s inside
Take my word for jewel in your open light.”
Audre Lorde, Coal
Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet. Audre Lorde never wanted to be put neatly into one box. It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance Audre had on the world. Her poetry became a shining example of the power of intersectionality within the arts. Her book Zami: A New Spelling Of My Name started global conversations about identity and the power of language. Her speeches and philosophy became vital tools in discussions about race, gender, and sexuality.
Being one of the first out-and-proud Black lesbians was just one of the defining parts of her legacy.
On 18 February this year, Audre would have been 90. When film producer Veronica McKenzie saw this in her calendar last year, she knew she wanted to do something to celebrate the ever-growing legacy and influence Audre has had on the world. So Audre Lorde Day was born.
“I felt like it was needed for the older Black lesbians,” Veronica explained to DIVA. “This sense of community connection was needed. This event felt like the perfect vehicle to bring people together and to reconnect.”
Bringing in the help of LGBTQIA activist Femi Otitoju and the award-winning author of 11 books Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John, Veronica pulled together a team to host a Black Lesbian Warriors event on Saturday 17 February. For all of the organisers of the event, Audre Lorde provided a vital source of comfort, education, and joy.
“Audre is old enough to be all of our mothers because she would have been 90. To have somebody from that generation who was out as a Black lesbian is so important,” Valerie said. “The impact Audre had on me was the name Zami. It was really looking at whether we should take on this Western word ‘lesbian’ and do we need to be thinking about redefining ourselves.”
Femi – who was working with the LGBTQIA pioneering organisation Switchboard when Zami was published in 1982 – found relief in Audre’s work. As the only Black woman in the office, she was often at a loss when trying to signpost other Black lesbians to resources. “When I first saw Zami I thought: Hooray – I have something to give to other Black lesbians,” Femi expanded. “For me, it was about holding up evidence that we exist.”
“One of the things that she did is show us in so many ways,” Femi continued. “She showed our art. People think about Black people in terms of our labour and not as creatives in the art world. With her writing, she shifted our perceptions of what we could be and how we could choose to portray ourselves.”
Audre Lorde Day will take place in an intimate venue in central London, welcoming lesbians and/or non-binary lesbians who identify as Black, Asian or of colour. Alongside its hosts Femi and Valerie, the event will also see contributions from writer and filmmaker Pratibha Parmar, poet Dorothea Smart, artist and photographer Ingrid Pollard, performing artist Khadijatou Doyneh, and Sistermatic’s very own Yvonne Taylor. Aside from the celebrations, the organisers of this day want to make sure that Audre’s legacy is passed down throughout history.
Valerie explained: “It’s our job in the Black lesbian community to lift up Audre so that younger generations know who this person is, and that we stand on the shoulders of people like Audre Lorde.”
“Part of why we’re doing this day is to re-emphasise that she was a living, breathing person who influenced people but also struggled,” Veronica added. “She faced a lot of challenges. She’s not someone who is just quotable. We want to get the younger generations to investigate further about what she stood for and what she said.”
Save the date! The event organisers welcome allies to support this event by donating to help them raise the funds needed: https://buytickets.at/audrelordeday/1121638/share/7047ddb5fca48f18a19a1eb193dacaf6
If you would like more information, please contact: audrelordecelebration@gmail.com
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