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A Litany For Survival By Audre Lorde

447 Words2 Pages

“A Litany for Survival'' is a poem by the author Audre Lorde created in 1978. Lorde’s poem is a representation of how people of marginalized communities experienced life in the 70s. Encouraging people of these oppressed communities to speak up for themselves and fight for equality in society during the high rise of racism and the pressure of heteronormative relationships. Audre Lorde distributes messages throughout the poem encouraging those who experience prejudice from opposing societal norms to fight for equality and how such unwavering fear silences their voices. Firstly, Audre Lorde was a Black African-Caribbean Lesbian Woman during the high rise of racism and the strict influence of Christianity during the 70s. LGTBQ+ relationships are dangerous. “Who love in doorways coming and going / in the hours between dawns (6-7)”. The allusion within the text demonstrates how heterosexual relationships were dangerous. The members of the LGBTQ community were afraid to express their love in public for fear of being victimized and it had to be hidden. Individuals from marginalized communities …show more content…

Instead, minorities are constantly forced to adapt to the oppressive forces around them, live in continuous fear, and are forced to remain silent in order to survive in a world that wasn’t built to sustain them. “So it is better to speak / remembering / we were never meant to survive” (43-45). As the minority group’s voices are not being heard, they feel unseen and are taught it is best not to talk about their problem. As they’re taught to withstand any oppression they face. If they speak, they’ll die, If they choose to remain silent, they’ll die because no matter what, they’ll die. Ensuring they’re not meant to live. Subsequently, in stanza three, it is preferable to speak out and fight their oppression. If those minority groups are going to face fear no matter the outcome, they have nothing to lose by breaking their solitude. In actuality, they may have something to

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