Reviews with content warning for Racism - Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches

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Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

56 reviews

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

I think this collection is better rated on an essay-by-essay basis. The danger in putter them all together and trying to rate it as a lump sum is that some are better than others and there is repetition in some of the examples that takes away from the overall allure of individual essays.

I liked and appreciated Sister Outsider, don't get me wrong. But for myself as a reader, I think it would have been more impactful with each essay as a standalone. I get caught up in technical details and that takes away from the overall message, which is an important one. And definitely a message that should not be clouded by truly unimportant technical things.

Audre Lorde is an idol to so many for a good reason - she unapologetically speaks the truth and raises her peers, sisters, friends, and community. The conversations in these essays about inter-sectionalism, toxic masculinity, raising children, her sexual identity are all so important. Doubly se when we remember that these essays were largely written decades ago, and the gave a voice to so many people who found themselves trampled and powerless.

The importance of these essays - beyond the technicals of the collection and the unfortunate fact of some of Lorde's personal behavior in romantic relationship - is why this is a four star review. These messages are important. And they are worth hearing, despite the flaws of the collection or the author. They are so important.

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kennedylamb's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

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lisa_mirabai's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

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lizard800's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

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sarah984's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This was an interesting read for me. It's a bit depressing that many of the issues being addressed here in the 70s and 80s are still with us. There are some iconic essays/speeches in this book, but the long meandering interview with Adrienne Rich in the middle could easily have been cut without losing anything important.

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amyfredella's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

a work much deserving of its classic status, sister outsider is raw, incisive, deep, and searing; its soul-searching, reclaiming of self and space, and examination into the sinister nooks and crevices of american society in all its -isms and complex intersectionality are cloaked w/ righteous (and relatable) rage, all succinctly yet effectivively articulated in a mix of prose, poems, and interviews, among others, though the last chapter kinda throws me off in its placement and seeming detour from content presented earlier in the book.

not only does lorde get me nodding my head off in vigorous agreement, she also leaves me awed and astounded at times at how insightful and revealing her observations and truth-telling are, and her call to self-awareness and action are inspiring. she's also light years ahead of many others in her understanding and communication of the seemingly seamless blending of race, sex, sexual orientation, class, and other aspects of complex intersectionality, as well as her awareness of her own positionality, resulting in a startlingly non-western-centric work. this is def a book to keep and read then reread.

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solitract13's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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dumaurier's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.5

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aishallnot's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

This is my first time reading/learning about Audre and her philosophies and I love her writing and how show shapes her perspectives in society as a black lesbian feminist. Even though her words were written decades ago they still apply today in the 21st century. I'm hoping to get a physical copy so I can annotate and reflect on her words.

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