Your Silence Will Not Protect You!: The Writing of Audre Lorde
Humanities New York Reading & Discussion Program
November 5 to December 17, 2019 – Six Tuesdays 6:00 to 8:00pm
Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center and C.S.1 Curatorial Projects is hosting a Reading & Discussion Program on the writing of Audre Lorde for six sessions from November 5 to December 17, 2019, on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Women’s Studies, Africana Studies, and Religion scholar Gabrie’l J. Atchison, Ph.D. will be facilitating this discussion.
Lorde’s powerful voice, documented in her poems, essays, speeches, biomythography and Cancer Journals, remain vital and instructive. It is not only worth reading for its own sake, but continues to provide keen insight into the differences that strengthen American society. This R&D series provides participants throughout New York State an opportunity to discuss Lorde’s writings as they explore issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
Funded by Humanities New York this program encourages friends, colleagues, and strangers to “make time for thinking deeply about a single idea from a variety of perspectives, allowing texts to become catalysts for civic engagement, cultural understanding, and personal reflection.”
Fill out this registration form or email Claire@cs1projects.org confirm of your participation. This discussion is intimate and can accommodate about 15 people.
Meetings are held on Tuesdays 6:00pm to 8:00pm:
Nov. 5 - Hallwalls - 341 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
Introductions/ Audre Lorde’s Biography & “Coal” (copies will be provided)
Nov. 12 - Five Loaves Farmhouse, 1172 West Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213
Discussion of Zami – “Prologue” through Chapter 15
Nov. 19 – UB Anderson Gallery, 1 Martha Jackson Place, Buffalo, NY 14214
Discussion of Zami – Chapter 16 through “Epilogue”
Dec. 3 - Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo, NY 14208
Discussion of The Cancer Journals
Dec. 10 - Old 1st Ward Community Center, 62 Republic Street, Buffalo, NY 14204
Discussion of Essays from Sister Outsider – “The Transformation of Silence into
Language and Action”, “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power”, “The Master’s
Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” and “The Uses of Anger”
Dec. 17 – Hallwalls
Poetry & Pizza (copies and pizza will be provided)
Organized by Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center & C.S.1 Curatorial Projects. Sponsored by Humanities New York.
"This group’s allowed me to have meaningful conversations about art with people from all neighborhoods of Buffalo, which is something that ordinarily would not happen."
“Words cannot express all the riches I encountered participating in the James Baldwin and Audre Lorde Curatorial Projects. The program format, the unique meeting places, and especially the participants perspectives, inspired me and made the experience unforgettable.”
"Really enjoyed meeting people from different backgrounds and neighborhoods who share a similar vision of connecting to others in this city. Hearing their personal stories was also connected us all to a greater humanity."
"Meeting people from other places and hearing their voices was so enriching and left me wanting for more. I am hoping to keep up these connections made at future programming or shared social events."
"There are very few opportunities for peoples from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, interests, etc. to get together and find ways to identify and celebrate our similarities, while developing tolerance for our differences. Our world needs this right now more than ever."
"When a group of strangers meet over a six-week period to discuss the writings of Audre Lorde, conversations inevitably turn to feminism, racism, sexuality, multiplicity, poetry and more. What could possibly happen? In the diverse group that just met, all kinds of openings took place as we shared reactions, personal stories and questions. We learned more about each other and, perhaps, about ourselves. In the end, no one wanted the group to end. Such bonding took place that it felt important to everyone to have a plan in place for future meetings and discussions. This has to be the best indicator of whether or not the group was successful. Obviously, the answer is a resounding Yes!"