Zami: A New Spelling of My Name

The term Zami comes from the Carriacou word to describe women working together as friends, lovers, and companions. In this moving and honest work, poet Audre Lorde reflects on the women that have inspired and molded her life as well as the communities and tribes that nurtured her growth. In Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, a new genre of autobiography is formed, one that Lorde dubs "biomythography." The genre unites classic biographic storytelling with rich history and myths that chronicle her childhood in Harlem up through her 50s. It is a deeply introspective and touching portrait of female friendships and romantic relationships.