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Post by Ms. English on May 30, 2023 7:46:28 GMT -5
Post your answers to the discussion question here. Make sure to read the responses of those posted before you and respond directly to them when appropriate before posting your own.
Looking further: What might Audre Lorde have to say about this childhood experience if she were still alive today? How might the election of Barack Obama as president have changed the way she looked back on this visit to Washington, D.C.? Imagine her possible reactions, and not just in a "things sure have changed" kind of way; try to consider ways in which her reactions might be mixed and even contradictory.
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Post by Arianna McCord on Jul 10, 2023 11:55:28 GMT -5
I feel as though she might say that the childhood experience was a big eye opener about the real world and how much more she would learn about. Especially after being oblivious to it after all of that time. I feel as though her reaction to the election of Barack Obama would have really caught her by surprise. Mostly by the way she grew up on how bad racism was. Black people couldn't even eat at the same places as whites let alone get elected to be the president of the United States. I also feel that just might be honestly confused. What was going on that really helped other people recognize the problem and see that there needed to be change. But then she might also be against it also because she knows how bad it was back then. Maybe she might think this might be a trap of some sort?
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Post by audrey on Jul 10, 2023 13:20:18 GMT -5
I feel as though she might say that the childhood experience was a big eye opener about the real world and how much more she would learn about. Especially after being oblivious to it after all of that time. I feel as though her reaction to the election of Barack Obama would have really caught her by surprise. Mostly by the way she grew up on how bad racism was. Black people couldn't even eat at the same places as whites let alone get elected to be the president of the United States. I also feel that just might be honestly confused. What was going on that really helped other people recognize the problem and see that there needed to be change. But then she might also be against it also because she knows how bad it was back then. Maybe she might think this might be a trap of some sort? I really like your question, I have never thought of it as her seeing it as a trap but I would get why you asked that because her experience with white people when she was younger wasn’t a fun one. I think she would see the election of Obama as a trap or a setup for him to lose because (white) people would not want him to win since he was black. I would also agree with you that it would catch her by surprise but I also think she would be happy to see that a black person was able to have a chance to be president and she could see in a way the world is open to change and it has changed since her ice cream shop incident. Even though people are still racist today there are still people fighting for equality. I think her seeing a black person elected for president would allow her to be hopeful of the world instead of feeling defeated like she did when she and her family were asked to leave the ice cream shop.
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Post by jirehm on Jul 19, 2023 13:38:34 GMT -5
Lorde might say this childhood experience was a rude awakening to how unfair the real world can be. With Barack Obama being elected it would have influenced her to tell her family and maybe her grandkids how they should be grateful they do not have to fully experience what she did in Washington. I think her reactions would be happy but still reserved because she might think electing a black president would cause more racism, and in some cases it did. In 2008 when it was announced Barack Obama was president it lead to ranges of hate crimes and race threats. I think Lorde would see this and possibly think was Barack Obama the best choice if it brought more hate? As time goes on I think it will grow on her when she sees the changes Obama has done like providing African Americans, with economic and educational opportunities, improving health care coverage, and working to ensure that the criminal justice system is applied fairly to all citizens.
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Post by izzymorris0715 on Jul 27, 2023 21:19:58 GMT -5
I feel that if Audre was alive today she would say that this childhood experience opened her eyes to racial oppression. Obviously she knew it existed and knew she was affected by it but this particular experience might have made her more aware. Especially since she mentioned her parents tried to shelter her and her siblings from racism. I feel like the election of Barack Obama wouldn’t have changed her outlook on her experience in Washington, D.C.. I feel like she would be shocked and happy but she would probably think that just because a black man is president that it isn’t going to change America’s racist foundation. I feel as if she would think it was a step in the right direction but we, as a country, would still need to do a lot more to lessen the effect of racism. Just because we have a black president doesn’t mean racist people are going to stop being racist. But I do think my own reaction could be biased due to seeing the aftermath of the 2020 election.
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Post by Alanna Brockman on Jul 30, 2023 13:55:21 GMT -5
Lorde might reflect about this childhood experience and say that it opened her eyes into the injustice of the real world. After growing up and being able to answer the questions she had that her parents wouldn't, she'd be able to reflect on her trip to Washington D.C. and see the acts of oppression that her parents tried to shield her from. If she were still alive today, she'd be happy to see that America is taking steps in a direction towards less racism, but she'd be disappointed that it's taken this long to move just a little bit closer. I believe that the election of Barack Obama would make her happy and shocked, but I believe that she'd still be upset with the racial injustice that happened during and after his presidency. America still has a lot of oppression and racism, but speaking out against it and bringing awareness, like Lorde did on her Washington D.C. trip, is beneficial.
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Post by Leah Sparks on Aug 9, 2023 19:13:56 GMT -5
I think that Audre Lorde would look back on this personal experience and think about how different things are now, and how it changed her views on the racial injustice that had been happening around her for her whole life. She might think about how the United States is taking more steps to help end racism, and how kids growing up now won't deal with the same segregation she did. She may also be upset when she realizes how long it has taken the country to get to this point and to realize there is still lots of oppression. I feel like the election of Barack Obama as president would make her pleased to know that there has been a significant step for the African American community, but it may also shock her to know about all the injustice that came after his election and during his presidency.
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Post by Ari Johnson on Aug 10, 2023 15:57:49 GMT -5
I think if Audre Lorde was still around today, she'd have mixed emotions on how things have changed since then. Even though she'd be glad to see that Barack Obama (a black man) became president, she would still be disappointed that it took 44 presidents just for one to not be white. And even though segregation isn't a thing anymore, and that plenty of progress has been made in ending racial discrimination, the process was still an unnecessarily long one. However, Audre would still be extremely glad to see that no one else would be treated the way that her and her family were treated in the ice cream shop ever again. Now that segregation was over, she would be able to sit an eat wherever she wanted.
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Post by Hailey Lowry on Aug 13, 2023 10:49:33 GMT -5
I think if Lorde was still alive today, She might say that the experience she had in Washington DC, made her more aware of how cruel the real world is. I think her reaction to the election of Barack Obama would have been a mix of emotions. She might have been happy, shocked, and possibly disappointed. I think that she would be happy to see the progress that America has made since she was a kid. She would be shocked to see a black president in office because when she was younger, black people couldn't even drink out of the same water fountain. I also think that she would probably be disappointed that it took so many years for America to get to the point where there was a black president. America still has a lot of growing to do involving racial injustice against any person of color and hopefully, we will see even more progress against it in the future.
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Question 5
Aug 15, 2023 11:50:21 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by cristianvargas on Aug 15, 2023 11:50:21 GMT -5
If Audre Lorde were alive today, she might acknowledge the significance of the progress made through the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president. She might recognize it as a symbolic milestone in the fight against racial oppression and a testament to the power of marginalized communities. However, Lorde’s analysis would likely go beyond a simple celebration of progress. She might recognize that Obama’s election does not solve the broader, deeply rooted issues of systemic racism and inequality in society. Lorde was well-known for her intersectional activism, so she might also critique aspects of Obama’s policies and actions that did not sufficiently address the needs and concerns of all marginalized groups. Lorde might point out the contradictions and complexities present in both her childhood experience and Obama’s presidency. She might acknowledge the power of symbols and representation in challenging deeply ingrained prejudices, while also cautioning against complacency or the assumption that one individual’s success erases systemic issues. Furthermore, Lorde might emphasize the importance of continuing the struggle for justice, recognizing that progress is multifaceted and ongoing. She might highlight the importance of collective action, community organizing, and dismantling institutionalized systems of oppression.
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Post by Anna Miedema on Aug 17, 2023 11:10:57 GMT -5
With the election of Barack Obama, Lorde would have been relieved, but perhaps maybe still puzzled on how the country is going to open up for the new Hawaiian man. After losing her innocence during her trip to Washington D.C., she realizes that her country is not on her side and does not abide by what it stands for. Lorde could possibly be ashamed that Obama would want to stand for such a nation, but may begin to understand that he uses his power to change it for the better. In current times, Lorde may look back on her experience in Washington D.C. and question how different her experience would be if she went now. Yes, many things have changed for the better, but plenty hasn’t. It doesn’t take long to figure that out, even as a young eighth grader who is just learning the ways of the world.
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Post by elizabethb on Aug 21, 2023 12:56:43 GMT -5
Lorde might say this childhood experience was a rude awakening to how unfair the real world can be. With Barack Obama being elected it would have influenced her to tell her family and maybe her grandkids how they should be grateful they do not have to fully experience what she did in Washington. I think her reactions would be happy but still reserved because she might think electing a black president would cause more racism, and in some cases it did. In 2008 when it was announced Barack Obama was president it lead to ranges of hate crimes and race threats. I think Lorde would see this and possibly think was Barack Obama the best choice if it brought more hate? As time goes on I think it will grow on her when she sees the changes Obama has done like providing African Americans, with economic and educational opportunities, improving health care coverage, and working to ensure that the criminal justice system is applied fairly to all citizens. When you said "Lorde would see this and possibly think was Barack Obama the best choice if it brought more hate?", I don't think I ever would have thought of that. That is a very interesting thought. I think that she would have defiantly questioned if he would bring more hate like you said. But I also agree with you that as time goes on he would grow on her, and she would see that things have actually changed. I think that Lorde would also be proud though, and be happy that things are changing. But I think she would also be unsure, because of how bad things once were and she would question if they would ever go back to that. Also, I think she would feel of course glad things had changed but also like another response said maybe she would wonder "If it was joke?". If Lorde was still alive today she would still be disgusted with how unfair she was treated on her trip to Washington DC. I also wonder that if there was an option to go back to DC after things have changed, would she have wanted to go back to DC and see the changes? Or would she not because of how harming her first visit was.
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Post by emmagray on Aug 21, 2023 19:07:13 GMT -5
It depends on how you look at it, but I think she would have found some comfort in the idea altogether. On the other hand, terrible events were also happening. However, from her point of view, I believe that at first she would have been shocked and amazed that someone of her color was doing something like this, after which she would have been thrilled. She might eventually wonder why people don't have to eat at various restaurants or use different bathroom. When compared to that time her experience would be different. She could have also felt ashamed or sad that Obama would stand up for a country such as theirs.
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Post by cameronshaffer on Aug 21, 2023 22:34:38 GMT -5
If Audre Lorde were alive today, she might think her childhood experience in Washington, D.C. opened her eyes to how tough life could be, especially because her parents tried to protect her from racism. She'd likely have mixed feelings about Barack Obama's election. On one hand, she'd probably be happy and surprised to see progress compared to her childhood when Black people faced segregation. But on the other hand, she might also be sad that it took so long to have a Black president, considering the racism she knew from her past. She might even wonder if this change was real or just for show. Her thoughts would be influenced by her experiences and her strong belief in fighting racism. She'd see it as a positive part of the progress against racism but know that the battle against racism isn't finished, and her feelings would show how complicated it is.
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Post by Isabella Johnson on Aug 22, 2023 11:44:00 GMT -5
I think if Audre Lorde were still alive today then she would be almost grateful for this experience because it really proved how racially unequal america really is. Considering that Lorde's parents basically hid her from the outside world she needed to understand how America truly was. If she never saw the true inequalities that people were facing she might not have become a powerful equal rights activist. As for how she might feel about Barack Obama being elected I think she would be proud that America was able to look past race and vote for a person because of their leadership skills not because of their race. I think it would also be empowering because of how much discrimination black people faced when she was a kid and it's nice to see someone of a different race than white be a leader of our country. But also she might be disappointed in how long it took our country to have a person of color in the office. America has only ever had one person of color as president and although it is still a step it should be more normal considering more than half of the country is made up of people of color. Lorde might almost be disappointed that in the years of fighting for equal rights their has only ever been one person of color in the office and she would probably see that the battle against racism isn't over and that people still have to fight for equal rights. One black person as president hasn't solved racism, it is just one step into the marathon of the fight for equality.
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