Aspen Lake’s Reviews > When I Dare to Be Powerful > Status Update
Aspen Lake
is on page 71 of 118
Okay so I don't think I wrote anything down about the second chapter, but from what I remember it was mainly an open call to a white feminist to recognise her lack of involvement in racial justice.
— Oct 22, 2026 11:42AM
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Aspen’s Previous Updates
Aspen Lake
is on page 107 of 118
This penultimate (?) chapter was how poetry is not a luxury, it is a means that women have used go think, feel, process etc. It is a space where they can dare to create and imagine new possibilities. It is not the same poetry that men without insight have tried to claim. I think that this symbolises journalling for me.
— Oct 24, 2026 08:33AM
Aspen Lake
is on page 101 of 118
This chapter was mainly on the intersection of being a black woman and a lesbian. I thought that it was really interesting. In particular how Lorde describes the misplacement of power on differences. The idea that in certain differences there must still 'always' be this inferiority/ superiority complex. This works against itself and further entrenches marginalisation. It does not lift you up, it further pushes people
— Oct 23, 2026 08:23AM
Aspen Lake
is on page 88 of 118
This chapter on 'wome defining difference' is very powerful. It is actually here that the 'masters tools will never dismantle the masters house' is mentioned. I think here again is also a very clear longing for connection from Lorde, but this time in a proactive way for social change. It is a chapter as to why assimilation is never the right course of path to take. As well as how we can literally just see eachother a
— Oct 23, 2026 06:20AM
Aspen Lake
is on page 8 of 118
I think that the main point of this at the moment is that it is better to say something than to be quiet. Eventually it will come out anyway. And also you what does staying quiet about what you think actually do anyways? It is trying to say that we have become socialised into accepting the fear of what others may think etc. instead of speaking about what we find important in our lives.
She also mentioned something
— Oct 10, 2026 07:23AM
She also mentioned something
This third chapter was basically about her experience of anger. Riddled to her core. Given to her to deal with, with no manual about how to actually overcome it. Or gey through it. Or pass through it. She has to realise this for herself.
Among all that stands out is this longing for connection that I can sense in her words. She wants to rid herself of the disconnected love she feels for herself and give herself grace, she wants to give other black women that grace too, she wants to stand side by side in true love. I think towards the end she spoke about how vital it was to do it, she knows thay it is important but she is not sure how to do it, but she knows that she can start, little by little.
And lastly something extremely interesting that she said was something along the lines of when two people have no connection anger brings them together. When people do have a connection anger tears them separate further apart from each other. I thought that was so interesting. I can see reflections of how my shared anger with strangers over certain issues or even with people i know or people i dislike- brings me closer to them. And how when there is conflict in close proximity with those you have connection to it brings you further apart and you start to distance yourself from them. It made me reflect on my own perception of this, I actually think I have started (with only boundaries) to start to take a step back from my anger and realise that a lot of the time I feel angry it is because I am actually caring, lonely, and craving attention or longing for this connection too. I am appreciative of how her own words have inspired me to think about how an emotion that I have struggled with dearly and immensely and greatly my whole life can be thought of and processed, analysed in a new way for me. I think that it is slowly and has and will bring me cliser to the ones that I love.