As we move forward to create a world of equality and justice for our families, I believe it is equally important to remember those in whose footsteps we tread. Audre Lorde, a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who was born on this date in 1934, is certainly one of them. Here’s a passage from her about defining family that I’ve always liked.
I think that some of the taboos that we suffer under now, that a family must be made up of male/female plus children, all locked into a kind of an authoritarian, blind, give or take, I think that that will hopefully disintegrate. I think that if we begin to think of families in a wider context, groups of people relating to each other in a give-and-take manner, then our definitions of families will broaden so that we have groups of people, sustain groups, support groups, in whatever period of life, whatever time, what ever place, right, that come together and remain. I think families, in that sense, human beings, are basically social and we will always find some way of grouping together, and our children need to be protected.
I am a member of the Amazon Associates program, and get a small referral fee from all purchases made at Amazon.com via links on this site. You are under no obligation to purchase through them.
