"When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak"

This quote by Audre Lorde speaks to the worry that many of us feel when we are confronted with the possibility of speaking out. We hesitate that our words will not be heard or invited, therefore we remain quiet. But even in our silence, we are still afraid. We are afraid that our silence will be analyzed as arrangement or acceptance of the status quo. Lorde motivates us to speak up, even if we hesitate. She suggests that it is better to speak, even if our words are not invited, than to stay silent and hesitate. By speaking out, we can challenge the status quo and produce a space for dialogue and understanding. We can use our words to produce a more fair and simply society.