There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.
Audre LordeRead
The fact that we are here and that I speak these words is an attempt to break that silence and bridge some of those differences between us, for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of communication in bridging differences among people.
Audre Lorde's quote highlights that silence can be a barrier to understanding and unity among individuals. Instead of allowing differences to create divisions, it is crucial to address and articulate those differences openly, thereby facilitating dialogue and connection. The act of speaking out is portrayed as a powerful means to confront unspoken issues and promote change.
Themes
CommunicationDifferenceSilenceUnderstandingDialogue
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on social justice, one might use this quote to encourage open dialogue.
More from Audre Lorde
All quotes →There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt.
Audre LordeRead
I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.
Audre LordeRead
I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.
Audre LordeRead
There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself - whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else.
Audre LordeRead
The erotic is a measure between the beginnings of our sense of self and the chaos of our strongest feelings.
Audre LordeRead
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