The Marvelous Arithmetics of Distance

Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde (1934–1992) was a celebrated American poet, essayist, intersectional feminist, and civil rights activist who described herself as a "Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet".

Born to West Indian immigrant parents, she was a precocious child who began writing poetry in high school. She graduated from Hunter College and later became a librarian and professor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1978 and passed away from the disease in 1992.

Lorde published 17 volumes of poetry and prose, including The Black Unicorn and The Cancer Journals, which detailed her battle with cancer and redefined survivors as "warriors".

She dedicated her life to confronting injustices of racism, sexism, and homophobia through literature and activism, emphasizing the need for coalition across differences. Her legacy continues through her profound influence on queer theory, critical race studies, and feminist literature.