“Coal” by Audre Lorde, an African American poet, is a poem that tells the tale of a black individual’s power to speak. Some people are able to spread their voice freely; however, for the speaker, it is a challenge. As the poem develops, the speaker’s life grows and she is defining herself. Audre Lorde lived during a period of significant social change in America. As a black, queer woman, she would have to combat with a lot of sexist, homophobic, and racist slurs thrown her way. The speaker of this poem is presumed to be Lorde, herself. The poem is broken down into three stanzas. The first establishes Lorde’s identity as a black woman. The second stanza describes Lorde’s fascination with different kinds of words and their impact on her life. Finally, she overcomes discrimination and rejoices her natural presence as an African American woman. This poem highlights Lorde’s identity in that she is unwilling to overcome societal norms and continue her constant quest to find herself. This is just like coal: beginning as an element on Earth, but later transforms into a gorgeous diamond after managing the pressures of Earth. Lorde focuses on the various components of language and its influence on black identity through the use of the extended metaphor between coal and race. This, ultimately, emphasizes the theme of racial inequality and material value of individuals.
Throughout the poem, there is a present metaphor between coal and the black race. Coal is a natural substance to earth, much like our identity. At first, a lump of coal may seem black and sooty; but when cleansed with flame and pressure, it becomes a shining diamond. Lorde writes: “How a diamond comes into a knot of flame” (5). This describes the metaphor for the fact that while some people look different than others, if one is to look deep enough, they are good on the inside. Coal and diamonds are used as indicators of value. The coal can start off as something that has no value on Earth to becoming one of the most valuable items on Earth. In American history, African Americans are deemed to have little valued compared to White individuals. Just as coal turns to diamond, black individuals gain more value with the extreme pressure and hardships faced in society. This pressure comes in the form of words.
Lorde uses descriptive language to focus on her feelings evoked after receiving kind, hurtful, and loving words. She uses elaborate words to express her deepest feelings of how others treat her: positively or negatively. The prejudice leaves a big effect on her and how she views herself. The line “By who pays what for speaking” (7), is a reference to the racism Lorde has experienced. In the time of racial inequality, white people can speak freely, while black individuals must pay for the words spoken. This bring about a lot of ambiguity to colored individuals’ identities. They are left to wonder their value in society and must think about words more in-depth than what is on the surface. Lorde writes: “Some words are open like a diamond on glass windows singing out within the crash of passing sun” (8-10). This means that some words have a distinct and powerful meaning that represent themselves. Her use of the word “open” references something that is obvious, or pure, as things that are open in the real world are easily distinguishable from other things. This is an example of positive words that support Lorde’s identity as a black woman. In the second stanza the words: "In a perforated book-buy and sign and tear apart" (11) describe the negative times in her life that have causes great emotional hurt to her personality. This can be seen in her reference to “stapled wagers,” which is similar to a check booklet that leaves hanging edges once a page is torn. Readers have insight to Lorde’s personal identity in literature and poetry. The words she writes take her identity and send it off into the world, leaving only “An ill-pulled tooth with a ragged edge” (15). These words have powerful meanings, and multiply with every new, strong emotion that she feels. Lorde feels a strong influence from the words spoken to her. Prior to the moment in the poem, she had been quiet, afraid to speak due to the value placed on her because of her race. However, just like the coal, due to the pressures of society, she has overcome the oppression and celebrates her identity and value as a black woman and a diamond.
Audre Lorde, a woman who experienced racism and love, uses the metaphor between coal and race to describe the feelings induced by different component of language. Words influence one’s identity and determine one’s value. The jagged structure of language reinforces racial inequality in expressing one’s identity through words.