74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeCommunityPeopleLocal Author’s Book on Audre Lorde Nominated for Lambda Literary Award

Local Author’s Book on Audre Lorde Nominated for Lambda Literary Award

Gloria Joseph presents a book she authored and another written by Audre Lorde to Chirlane McCray, wife of New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio. NYC’s first lady has admired and respected Lorde and her writings and civil rights work for many years.

Local author Dr. Gloria I. Joseph’s bio/anthology about Audre Lorde, New York state poet laureate, civil rights activist, Afro-Caribbean feminist and St. Croix resident until her death in 1992, has been nominated for a prestigious Lambda Literary Award.

“The Wind is Sprit: The Life, Love and Legacy of Audre Lorde,” published in 2016, pays homage to the revolutionary spirit of Lorde and weaves together stories, memories and photographs from 50 contributors including Pennsylvania State Poet Laureate Sonia Sanchez and political activist and scholar Angela Davis. The writings of 12 Virgin Islands essayists and poets who were in some way touched by Lorde’s worldly presence are also included. 

Their contributions are important to the understanding of Lorde’s connection to cultural and ancestral Caribbean history.  “It gives me great pleasure to know that the Virgin Islands, its environment and peoples have contributed so much to this laudable recognition,” said Joseph. Several of the local and international contributors to the book will be in attendance with Joseph at the awards ceremony on June 12 at New York University Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

The Lambda Literary Awards affirm that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) stories are part of the literature of the world. The Lammys, which receive national and international media attention, bring together 600 attendees to celebrate excellence in LGBTQ publishing. It is the most prestigious and glamorous LGBTQ literary event in the world.

Dr. Joseph, the great niece of Crucian philanthropist Casper Holstein, is a renowned scholar, who earned her doctorate in educational psychology from Cornell University. She is professor emeritus at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., and has lectured all over the world. She has spent the last year fulfilling invitations from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and major colleges and universities to discuss and promote her unique bio/anthology.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.