Hanging Fire

“From the House of Yemanja” by Audre Lorde (1997)

This is another poem by Audre Lorde about her mother, Linda. It more directly describes Linda’s preferential treatment of Audre’s sisters over Audre, based on skin tone, than “Hanging Fire.” Both poems explore how the speaker desired a more positive connection with her mother.

“Power” by Audre Lorde (1978)

Like “Hanging Fire,” Lorde’s poem “Power” explores how young Black people are killed in America. It directly addresses the case of a 10-year-old named Clifford Glover being killed by a racist cop. The speaker’s fears about premature death in “Hanging Fire” reflect the real-life horrors discussed in “Power.”

“Always in the Head” by Patricia Smith (1998)

The speaker of this poem is a Black mother concerned about her teenage son. Unlike the neglectful and colorist mother in “Hanging Fire,” Smith’s speaker has fears about her son’s death.

Excerpts From Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde (2007)

This website from Evergreen College includes several of Lorde’s important essays, including “Poetry Is Not a Luxury.” This essay is so famous that there is an Instagram poetry account that uses the title as a username.