Audre Lorde’s “4th of July”
Read Audre Lorde’s “4th of July” (link below). Then answer the questions. For full credit, follow claim-data-commentary form, always using quotes from the text to support your answer.
1. What does young Audre learn about society and her place in it while on the train to Washington? Why are these things important to the story?
2. What is her mother’s attitude toward the indignities and racism they face as they travel to Washington? How do Audre’s parents decide to deal with racism?
3. Why is Audre mad at her parents after they visit the ice cream shop?
4. On page 241, Lorde writes about the brightness of Washington on the day she visited. Why does Washington seem brighter than her hometown, New York City? How does this use of imagery relate to the story’s theme?
5. Explain the motivations of Audre’s parents. Why do they deal with racism in the way they do? Are they right or wrong for dealing with it in this way? Are they good parents for trying to protect their children, or should they have been more honest about their place in American society?
