Audre Lorde

 love all of the detail that Audre Lorde uses in her descriptions of learning to read, to talk and starting school. Her descriptions are colorful and make her story come alive.In this piece she gives accounts of interacting with three different teachers. The fist is the librarian who she describes as “immense, light, hooded eyes and a very quiet voice that said, not damnation for my noise, but would you like to hear a story, little girl?” This was very calming and the experience left her wanting to read. 

Her kindergarten teacher used shame and manipulation as a way to get Audre to do what she was wanted. An example is when she said, “Imagine that, a big girl like you. Such a shame, I’ll have to tell your mother that you won’t even try. And such a big girl!” Which does motivate her to do what she is asked because she wants to please her mother, so instead of just writing the “A” in first name she writes her whole name for which she is punished for not following the directions. Happily, when her mother learns of what has happened she comes to her defense and Audre switches schools and enters the first grade. This experience was her first dose of reality about school; “ability had nothing to do with expectation”.

Her first grade teacher was a nun whom she describes as being big and likely blonde, because although the nun’s hair was covered, her eyebrows were blonde. She also describes her as being a “disciplinarian of the first order, right after my mother’s own heart”. There was an assumption that she was to be dedicated and caring, but Audre learned that there was a difference between “caring for” and “caring about”. Through this Audre surmises that the sister either hated teaching or little children.

Through all of Lorde’ descriptions we get a look at what her first year of schooling was like. I can picture it, I can feel it, and I have a good understanding of what that year was like for her and why.