She is known for being an amicable poet, a feminist, a professor and a civil rights activist: Audre Lorde was a key figure in the black civil rights movements of the 20th century, and for this, she is honoured by Google on what would have been her 87th birthday.

Audre Lorde was born in Harlem, New York City on February 18, 1934, She had Caribbean immigrant parents, her father was from Barbados, her mother from Grenada. When she was younger Audre was shy and kept to herself, and enjoyed reading and writing. As she was growing up Lorde did not have it easy she was nearsighted and had many arguments with her parents. Hence she gave up the name her parents had given her (Audrey) and called herself Audre.

Lorde's first collection of poems was published in 1968, called "The First Cities". She portrayed herself as black, lesbian, mother, warrior and poet, her poems addressed identity, sexuality and social justice.

In 1992, Audre Lorde died of breast cancer. Her children said she would have loved the internet as she was passionate and involved in the world around her. Her words are finding even more meaning these days with the Black Lives Matter Movement

By I. Bey