---
product_id: 221642
title: "Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches"
price: "€ 35.41"
currency: EUR
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/221642-sister-outsider-essays-and-speeches
store_origin: PT
region: Portugal
---

# Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

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## Description

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches [Lorde, Audre, Clarke, Cheryl] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

Review: Poetry and Politics - Audre Lorde’s Sister Outsider, perhaps her most seminal work, contains essays and speeches recorded at the height of her powers. As a Black Lesbian feminist poet, mother, and person in a biracial relationship, she had a lot to say about a lot of things. Her honesty and eloquence were unparalleled. Her poetry was fearless. She served as a spokesperson on behalf of oppressed people, and was much beloved—and often feared. She held herself up to the same high standards of scrutiny that she did her contemporaries. Her untimely death to breast cancer (which she chronicled in her book «Cancel Journals ») created torrential grief in her communities and far beyond. A street near Hunter college in New York City now bears her name. Sister Outsider, however, is not an easy book to read. Aside from being intellectually brilliant and unassailable in terms of the airtight arguments Lorde presents, Sister Outsider is somewhat harsh and relentless. It is easier read piecemeal in small portions because it is presented at such a pitch that the reader can quickly be overwhelmed. Of course, her essay « Poetry is Not a Luxury » first published in 1977 in Chrysalis, despite its seriousness, is a joy to read. It is surprisingly fresh and completely relevant. This could be one of those timeless essays that will never become passé. As art is always on the chopping block, its efficacy perpetually debated, it would be a great text to memorize and quote at will when needed. It is often needed. Another highlight for me in this book is her « Open Letter to Mary Daly, » criticizing the radical feminist’s book, Gyn/Ecology for its treatment of female circumcision, which did not recognize or consult the black feminist perspective. This microaggressive erasure was further aggravated by the fact that Daly never replied to Lorde’s letter voicing her objections, before it even became an open letter. Despite the letter’s friendly tone and patina of graciousness, Lorde basically « tore Daly a new one. » The classic interview between Audre and her good friend Adrienne Rich is a total gem. Their repartee rings authentic and neither of them skirt around uncomfortable issues, but rather face them head on in a noncombatant, pacific manner. Equally brilliant are the essays on the erotic in poetry, citing the creation of poetry as a primal force; and « The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House, » of which title speaks for itself. The final essay involves the US invasion of Grenada, the birthplace and home of Audrey Lord’s mother. This essay is so moving probably because of personal connection to it. However, her analysis of historical precedents and her willingness to expose the rotten teeth of the US technomilitary complex as it relates to a history rife with racist, is stunningly courageous. In this last essay, she never misses a beat, connecting the dots between the US’s paternalistic involvement (and financial entanglements) in South America and its island possessions. Grenada, prior to the invasion of American and British forces, was an independent entity, governed by an all black leadership. The carnage left behind after said invasion was brutal, unnecessary and totally racist. And that’s what makes Audre Lorde’s work, so hard to take at times because of its blatant and unrelenting insistence on telling the truth, a blueprint for students of the peace and justice movement, scholars, and revolutionaries to this day.
Review: Amazing book; I got a different (better) cover - I was surprised and pleased that this book came with a different cover than the green one with the line drawing - mine has a portrait of Lorde which is beautiful. Regarding the content, these essays slapped me in the face. I have read very little feminist thought and this was a wake up call that I need to educate myself more on that front. I loved Lorde's writing style, her astute observations, and I plan to read more from her in the future.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #39,427 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #8 in LGBTQ+ Demographic Studies #50 in Feminist Theory (Books) #61 in African American Demographic Studies (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,109) |
| Dimensions  | 5.9 x 0.56 x 8.9 inches |
| Edition  | Reprint |
| ISBN-10  | 1580911862 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1580911863 |
| Item Weight  | 10.4 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 192 pages |
| Publication date  | August 1, 2007 |
| Publisher  | Crossing Press |

## Images

![Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71LymtJyjKL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Poetry and Politics
*by J***E on September 25, 2023*

Audre Lorde’s Sister Outsider, perhaps her most seminal work, contains essays and speeches recorded at the height of her powers. As a Black Lesbian feminist poet, mother, and person in a biracial relationship, she had a lot to say about a lot of things. Her honesty and eloquence were unparalleled. Her poetry was fearless. She served as a spokesperson on behalf of oppressed people, and was much beloved—and often feared. She held herself up to the same high standards of scrutiny that she did her contemporaries. Her untimely death to breast cancer (which she chronicled in her book «Cancel Journals ») created torrential grief in her communities and far beyond. A street near Hunter college in New York City now bears her name. Sister Outsider, however, is not an easy book to read. Aside from being intellectually brilliant and unassailable in terms of the airtight arguments Lorde presents, Sister Outsider is somewhat harsh and relentless. It is easier read piecemeal in small portions because it is presented at such a pitch that the reader can quickly be overwhelmed. Of course, her essay « Poetry is Not a Luxury » first published in 1977 in Chrysalis, despite its seriousness, is a joy to read. It is surprisingly fresh and completely relevant. This could be one of those timeless essays that will never become passé. As art is always on the chopping block, its efficacy perpetually debated, it would be a great text to memorize and quote at will when needed. It is often needed. Another highlight for me in this book is her « Open Letter to Mary Daly, » criticizing the radical feminist’s book, Gyn/Ecology for its treatment of female circumcision, which did not recognize or consult the black feminist perspective. This microaggressive erasure was further aggravated by the fact that Daly never replied to Lorde’s letter voicing her objections, before it even became an open letter. Despite the letter’s friendly tone and patina of graciousness, Lorde basically « tore Daly a new one. » The classic interview between Audre and her good friend Adrienne Rich is a total gem. Their repartee rings authentic and neither of them skirt around uncomfortable issues, but rather face them head on in a noncombatant, pacific manner. Equally brilliant are the essays on the erotic in poetry, citing the creation of poetry as a primal force; and « The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House, » of which title speaks for itself. The final essay involves the US invasion of Grenada, the birthplace and home of Audrey Lord’s mother. This essay is so moving probably because of personal connection to it. However, her analysis of historical precedents and her willingness to expose the rotten teeth of the US technomilitary complex as it relates to a history rife with racist, is stunningly courageous. In this last essay, she never misses a beat, connecting the dots between the US’s paternalistic involvement (and financial entanglements) in South America and its island possessions. Grenada, prior to the invasion of American and British forces, was an independent entity, governed by an all black leadership. The carnage left behind after said invasion was brutal, unnecessary and totally racist. And that’s what makes Audre Lorde’s work, so hard to take at times because of its blatant and unrelenting insistence on telling the truth, a blueprint for students of the peace and justice movement, scholars, and revolutionaries to this day.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing book; I got a different (better) cover
*by L***R on August 9, 2020*

I was surprised and pleased that this book came with a different cover than the green one with the line drawing - mine has a portrait of Lorde which is beautiful. Regarding the content, these essays slapped me in the face. I have read very little feminist thought and this was a wake up call that I need to educate myself more on that front. I loved Lorde's writing style, her astute observations, and I plan to read more from her in the future.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My bible.
*by S***. on September 28, 2022*

This is honestly a book I will return to again and again for advice, encouragement or if I need a little tough love from Mother Audre Lorde. She is laying down the wisdom and she does not sugar coat the truth. We need to hear it and I am here to be educated. I am grateful to have found this book as well as her poetry. It's all worth reading, truly. You will not regret picking up anything this woman has written.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
- All About Love: New Visions

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*Last updated: 2026-03-31*