By Quinn Riley
This quote is one that we have always kept close to our hearts, but fear that it is often oversimplified. It’s helpful to understand the history and context behind Audre Lorde’s words before diving into our own interpretations. The first step in building a foundation of understanding for this quote is conceptualizing ‘radical self-care,’ an act that calls for the attentiveness to one’s individual mind and body. Within social norms, women are socialized to care for others often to extent of their own detriment. But by caring for oneself, a woman can actively confront the stereotype that she solely exists to give her time and energy to her surrounding environment and the people in it. The very act of self-care builds sustainable revolutions and social movements—ones that are upheld by individuals built to last. Simply put, self-care is downright revolutionary, because it works against oppression and forms of discrimination that attempt to undermine particular identities, and grants women the power to advocate for their community in their fullest potential.
Audre Lorde’s existence, as a Black lesbian, mother, poet, and activist, made her act of self-care one of strength and commitment on behalf of so many different identities, and we admire her for bringing this powerful concept to light so eloquently. These words are found within the pages of Audre Lorde’s “A Burst of Light: and Other Essays,” a collection dedicated to intersectionality, sexuality, parenting, disease, and racial injustice. We chose to overlay Lorde’s quote on the Folly pattern from Fromental’s 1787 collection, as it struck us as incredibly thoughtful and delicate, while also maintaining a sense of strength and determination. Birds, in particular, seemed perfect for this quote as their imagery often represents liberation. And to us, the idea that self-care can provide a revolutionary and ultimately freeing platform is nothing short of downright exhilarating!