Nature as Narrative: Audre Lorde’s Confluence of Environment, Identity, and Activism

Abstract

Abstract

This research paper delves into the nuanced portrayal of nature in the writings of Audre Lorde, situating her work within the broader spectrum of Black women's environmental literature. Lorde, a seminal figure in twentieth-century literature, uniquely integrates the natural world within her exploration of race, gender, and sexuality, challenging the conventional boundaries of nature writing. Unlike the traditional view of nature as a realm separate from human or societal issues, Lorde's poetry and prose embody nature as a deeply intertwined element of personal and collective identity and struggle. Through a close reading of Lorde’s selected poems and speeches, this study aims to unravel how Lorde’s use of natural imagery and metaphors articulates a vision of nature that is inherently political and reflective of the Black female experience. The paper seeks to answer how Audre Lorde’s portrayal of nature contributes to a redefinition of environmental literature, emphasizing the inseparability of ecological concerns from the fabric of racial and gender identity. In doing so, it contributes to the ongoing discourse on the intersectionality of environmental justice, highlighting the significance of Black women's voices in shaping the nature writing genre.