Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Audre Lorde's "Who Said It Was Simple" presents a complex commentary on intersecting oppressions, specifically those related to race and gender. Set against the backdrop of the feminist movement of the 1970s, the poem explores the limitations and contradictions of liberation struggles when they fail to address multiple layers of identity. The title itself initiates this conversation; liberation is not a straightforward process, and its complexities often result in fractured movements.

The poem begins with a metaphor: "There are so many roots to the tree of anger that sometimes the branches shatter before they bear." This image encapsulates the myriad causes for anger and social discontent, suggesting that without careful nurturing, these causes can weaken and break the very movements they spawn. The tree, intended to bear fruit, instead shatters due to the complicated and sometimes conflicting roots feeding it.

The setting moves to Nedicks, a gathering spot where women are discussing "problematic girls" they hire presumably to do domestic work, thereby enabling their own freedom. In doing so, the poem critiques feminist agendas that prioritize the liberation of one group at the expense of another. In the scene, an "almost white counterman" serves the women before serving "a waiting brother," illustrating a racial injustice unnoticed or ignored by the women engrossed in their own concerns for liberation. This captures the essence of what contemporary discussions term intersectionality: the intersecting systems of oppression that impact people differently based on their varied identities.

"But I who am bound by my mirror as well as my bed" speaks to the speaker's own intersectional identity-bound by both her race ("my mirror") and her gender ("my bed"). For the speaker, the liberation movements addressing these separate aspects of her identity aren't necessarily aligned. She wonders, "which me will survive all these liberations," revealing the intrinsic conflict in navigating multiple forms of oppression. Can one be liberated in terms of gender but remain oppressed by race, or vice versa? Which aspect of her identity will find freedom, if any, through these liberation movements that are blind to intersectionality?

The poem is a reflection on incomplete revolutions, on movements that aim for liberation but perpetuate other forms of oppression. It serves as a critique not just of the feminist movement of its time, but also of any social or political movement that seeks to liberate one group without considering the multifaceted identities within that group. Through succinct yet profound verses, Lorde magnifies the complexities of liberation, revealing the fraught path toward true social justice.

The poem's historical and cultural context only amplifies its message. Written during a period of civil rights movements, feminist protests, and other social upheavals, the poem serves as a poignant reminder that the quest for equality is far from straightforward. It challenges us to question our own complicity in systems of oppression and urges us to consider who is left behind even as we march forward. In doing so, "Who Said It Was Simple" remains hauntingly relevant, urging ongoing movements to be ever mindful of intersectionality as they strive for change.

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