“If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society” (Bayard Rustin). In the 1940s, discrimination was a problem for America and today there is still much to be done. During the 1940s, Audre Lorde was a black child who lived a sheltered life from the problem of discrimination until her trip to Washington D.C. for the Fourth of July. On their trip, Audre learned many things about the reality of life for the colored compared to the whites. In the narrative essay, Fourth of July, Audre Lorde encounters the obstacle of race showing how even in the nation’s capital, freedom was guaranteed only for whites, which proves how in society inequality contributed to a lack of opportunity.
After arriving in Washington D.C., Audre Lorde discovers how few opportunities she will have in life because of her race. Her first experience happens when she learns the truth about why her sister, Phyllis could not travel to the Nation’s capital with her class, “I learned later that Phyllis’s high school senior class trip had been to Washington, but the nuns had given …show more content…
because of her race and she learns the truth about how race contributed to many problems including a lack of opportunities. Audre saw many ways in which she and others were treated unfairly including various basic freedoms people should have. In short, Audre learned how her sister was not able to go on a class trip, how Marian Anderson was unable to sing in an auditorium because she was black, and how she could not simply eat food in a diner. As a result of this, she discovered how her race would determine how many opportunities she would have in life. Although, discrimination has decreased since the 1940s, it still has a role in society today. In order to fully rid the world of discrimination, there must be no animosity toward other races in the process of improving the
After arriving in Washington D.C., Audre Lorde discovers how few opportunities she will have in life because of her race. Her first experience happens when she learns the truth about why her sister, Phyllis could not travel to the Nation’s capital with her class, “I learned later that Phyllis’s high school senior class trip had been to Washington, but the nuns had given …show more content…
because of her race and she learns the truth about how race contributed to many problems including a lack of opportunities. Audre saw many ways in which she and others were treated unfairly including various basic freedoms people should have. In short, Audre learned how her sister was not able to go on a class trip, how Marian Anderson was unable to sing in an auditorium because she was black, and how she could not simply eat food in a diner. As a result of this, she discovered how her race would determine how many opportunities she would have in life. Although, discrimination has decreased since the 1940s, it still has a role in society today. In order to fully rid the world of discrimination, there must be no animosity toward other races in the process of improving the