“The Fourth of July” by Audre Lorde is about a trip her family had taken to Washington, D.C. to celebrate her sister and her graduation. Soon the trip turns into disappointment as she realizes the harsh truth of racism and humiliation. (1982). u The Fourth of July” is a beautifully spare yet forceful piece of I writing. In it, readers can see the anger that spurred much of Lordes writing, whether about racism, as in this essay, or about sexism or homophobia, but they can also see the control with which Lorde expressed her ideas and the honesty with which she implicated herself The irony in the challenges of life is that it helps us build character. But the irony in truth is that often times its right in front of us. Can we all subconsciously be capable of carrying ourselves within a barrier of “truths”? As a poet, writer, and political activist, Audre Lorde’s “The Fourth of July” describes an image of how much her mother rationalizes with certain truths Audre Lorde’s essay “The Fourth of July” serves as a powerful voice for those who have experienced racism and discrimination. By sharing her own personal narrative, Lorde gives voice to the countless individuals who have faced similar injustices. The Fourth of July Audre Lorde (1934-1992) was a poet and nonfiction writer. Born in New York City to Caribbean immigrants, Lorde trained and worked as a j librarian and became a widely published poet in the 1960s, when she also became politically active. Her poetry collections include The First Triggered by her frustration of being a second-class citizen, Lorde rebukes white society’s refusal to accept African Americans as their equals. The author uses irony to contrast her lack of freedom as a young black teenager with the freedoms given to white society as a whole. Awaou Agueh 09-29-2021 The irony of the 4th of July To describe the main character's coming-of-age, Audre Lorde's narrative essay "The Fourth of July" employs literary methods such as sarcasm, imagery, and tone. Lorde recounts a trip to Washington, D.C. with her parents and sister. Lorde hopes to make the transition from childhood to maturity on her journey. Segregation is a serious issue in Consequently the reasoning for Lorde’s blatant irony in her essay’s title: “The Fourth of July”. July 4th is supposed to represent the day the American founders broke away from an oppressive British rule to mark the birth of a free land. Paradoxically, they created a regime that was was more oppressive than the British. Audre Lorde's 'The Fourth of July' is a poignant narrative that explores the themes of race and identity through the lens of personal experience. Set against the backdrop of the Fourth of July celebrations in Washington D.C., the narrative presents a stark contrast between the ideals of freedom and the reality of racial discrimination. This essay delves into the central theme, symbolism In the essay “The Fourth of July,” Audre Lorde expresses that she has “always hated the Fourth of July, even before she came to realize the travesty such a celebration was for black people” (10) and in the process, she tells of the irony behind the celebration. Here, Lorde employs irony skillfully, calling attention to the fact that limited liberation movements are inherently oppressive. In selecting the title for the essay, Lorde chooses “The Fourth of July” to ridicule the idea of freedom and equality during her trip. Even though she is not aware of American segregation during the trip, Lorde weaves two different perspectives to show her thoughts as the narrative goes on. Lorde also references the irony in her parents. In the excerpt Lorde tells of how her parents over compensated so that they would not have to bear the burden and the heartache of ending their children’s innocence by exposing them to racism. Consequently the reasoning for Lorde’s blatant irony in her essay’s title: “The Fourth of July”. July 4th is supposed to represent the day the American founders broke away from an oppressive British rule to mark the birth of a free land. Paradoxically, they created a regime that was was more oppressive than the British. The Fourth of July is included in Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, a chronicle of Lorde's childhood memories in Harlem to her coming of age in the late 1950s. Set in Washington, D.C., in 1947, The Fourth of July is a narrative seen through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Audre as she travels with her family to celebrate both her graduation from eighth grade and America's independence. Lorde's Consequently the reasoning for Lorde’s blatant irony in her essay’s title: “The Fourth of July”. July 4th is supposed to represent the day the American founders broke away from an oppressive British rule to mark the birth of a free land. Lorde’s tragic epiphora of “white” when she describes “the waitress [as] white, and the counter [as] white” (20) emphasizes the irony revealed within America, for although the country may be characterized as the land of the free and the land of opportunity, in reality, is not true. The fourth of July represents a unity among all Americans across the country, this unity does not judge these citizens on where they came from, their social class, or their race. In this piece of writing “The Fourth of July”, Audre Lorde recalls a summer family vacation to Washington D.C. where her eyes are opened to the horrific reality of racism in America. The author uses the rhetorical Sadly, Lorde’s trip to our nation’s “fabled and famous” capital disabuses her of any illusions she had about her country. Ironically, she learns there is no such thing as “liberty and justice for all” in Washington D.C., the epicenter of American democracy, especially if you’re black in the 1940s. AUDRE LORDE The Fourth of July Audre Lorde (1934—1992) was a poet and nonfiction writer. Born in New York City to Caribbean immigrants, Lorde trained and worked as a librarian and became a widely published poet in the 1960s, when she also became politically active.
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