ROMAINE WASHINGTON
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Social Justice: Poetry Analysis


Pain is important: how we evade it, how we succumb to it,
how we deal with it, how we transcend it.

- Audre Lorde
Text: This section has four poems, three from the book Sirens in Her Belly and the fourth, All-American Pastime, is provided. 
​
Synthesis:
An additional reference (article, documentary, video) is provided to engage students with compare/contrast analysis.
Analysis: 
Historical references are provided for contextual understanding and critical thinking.

Empowerment Assignment: 
​Political Commentary and Voice.
Students create their own artwork, poetry, song, either individually or as a group and use a current event article, podcast, and/or video to add depth.

The assignments that have activities are in red.

Picture
1. Poem: August 1965, p. 28
​
 Discuss the emotional impact of The Watts Riots from these three sources . 
​Click on the button for the assignment.
​There are videos and articles to help with historic background information.
What impact does this historic uprising create for the poet and society?
​What is resolved? What still needs to be resolved?
August 1965
Watts Riots
Watch the 2:30 video
for Burning
Watch the Documentary.56 min.

Picture
2. Poem: All-American Pastime. (included)
​Click on the button for the assignment, instructions, and the poem, All-American Past-Time.
Discuss the experience the police shares and what the poem describes.
How can there be a resolution or healing in this environment?
What steps would you take as a police officer?
 
a Racist Cop
All-American

Picture
3. Poem: We Need Video Cam Eyes, p. 29
Click on the button for the assignment.
​There are videos and articles to help with historic background information.
Video cam
Police Videos
POLICE VIDEOS button:
​NPR has a hybrid of articles & 3 videos
​43, 40 and 28 minutes respectively.
Trauma
A PBS article.

Picture
4. Poem: Strange Fruit: A Crucifixion p.33
Click on the button for the assignment.
​There are videos and articles to help with historic background information.
Strange Fruit
Growing Up
Watch the NYT 5 minute video.
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