A review by brnineworms
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Overall really good, though some chapters are stronger than others. It gets a little repetitive in places but in a way that kind of works, reflecting how Lorde (and black women generally) have to have the same conversations over and over with white feminists. I found the interview with Adrienne Rich really interesting; it got me thinking about how we always interact with one another both as individuals and as representative members of our respective groups (our gender, our race, etc.) I also liked the essay “Eye to Eye: Black Women, Hatred, and Anger” which read like Lorde’s phenomenal book Zami: A New Spelling of My Name.

I can see why this collection is considered a classic. Lorde’s words are sharp, considerate, and woefully relevant now, decades later.

CONTENT WARNINGS: racism and colourism, sexism, misogyny, lesbophobia, violence including police brutality and murder, death, sexual assault, invasion, and mentions of forced pregnancy/sterilisation, slavery, and cancer