Berlin has named a street in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg after the late activist, academic and writer Audre Lorde. Lorde, who is known for her poignant essays and poems about race, class and gender, was instrumental in the emergence of the Afro-German and Black German women’s movement during her time in Berlin.
A legacy of activism
Audre Lorde, who described herself as “black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, fighter, poet”, was a regular visitor to Berlin in the 1980s and also took up a guest professorship at the Free University (FU) during her time in the capital. She also inspired the founding of the Initiative of Black People in Germany (ISD) and ADEFRA (Association of Black Women in Germany). Both groups fought against racism and promoted the visibility of Black Germans and challenged the idea that one could not be Black and German at the same time.
The renaming of the street, which is supported by LGBTQ+ and anti-racism activists as well as the Green Party, clearly reflects Berlin’s diversity and openness. Nevertheless, the renaming met with some resistance, which ultimately led to a compromise whereby only half of the street was renamed after Lorde, while the other half continues to commemorate its original namesake, Otto Theodor von Manteuffel.
Street renaming is accompanied by photo exhibition
In conjunction with the renaming, the photo exhibition “Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years” will be shown with works by Dagmar Schultz, who also produced a documentary film about Lorde’s time in Berlin. The exhibition highlights the significant impact Lorde has had on the city and its residents, particularly the black and LGBTQ+ community. At the exhibition opening, the academic Marion Kraft recited Lorde’s last poem “East Berlin, December 1989”, in which she emphasizes the ongoing fight against racism. Schultz, who played a key role in bringing Lorde to Berlin, recalled her spirit of resilience and her commitment to using whatever “power” one has to effect change.
