Ethiopia

Ethiopia

By Audre Lorde

Presentation

Lesson Standards

10.2(B)

10.1(D)

10.1(A)

10.3

10.4(E)

10.4(f)

10.4(i)

10.4(h)

10.4(g)

10.5(A)

10.5(c)

10.5(d)

10.9(B)(i)

10.8(D)

10.7(B)

What will our lesson look like?

Language Objective

Success Criteria

Learning Intention

• I can articulate Audre Lorde's perspective on Ethiopia.
• I can identify and discuss key themes and literary devices in Lorde's work.

I will use academic vocabulary to express my understanding of Audre Lorde's perspective on Ethiopia.

To explore the intersection of literature and cultural identity through the lens of Audre Lorde's poem "Ethiopia."

Do Now

• What do you know about Ethiopia?
• How might an individual's perspective on a place be influenced by their personal experiences?

Introduction

Audre Lorde (1934–1992) was an African American writer and activist. She once remarked that the source of her poetry was “the intersection of me and my worlds.” Her poetry collections include The Black Unicorn, Coal, and Our Dead Behind Us; in addition to poetry, Lorde wrote essays—some of which are collected in Sister, Outsider—and two highly regarded memoirs, The Cancer Journals and Zami: A New Spelling of My Name. First published in 1986, “Ethiopia” is an intimate portrait of a life impacted by the country’s famine of the mid-1980s. The crisis made headlines around the globe and was the focus of highly publicized international relief efforts. By the time the famine ended, as many as eight million people had been affected by severe hunger and hundreds of thousands had died of starvation. *Watch StudySync Video

Vocabulary

ghee

embroidery

decorative cloth with designs sewn into it with thread

clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow

mend

to repair something

ENTRY POINT

• The worst famine in Ethiopian history occurred between 1983 and 1985, resulting in more than 400,000 deaths. Ethiopia had another food crisis in 2002–2004, and another ruinous famine in 2017. With more than 10 million Ethiopians in need of emergency food supplies, analysts had to ask: Why does Ethiopia have cyclical famines?
• Initially, experts blamed the famine on drought. While droughts can be predicted and planned for, complicated factors have prevented such planning.
• During the mid 1980s, the Ethiopian military government perpetrated a series of human rights abuses––including attempts to profit off of foreign aid––that denied resources to their citizens and ensured that famine would continue. Experts have blamed similar levels of governmental disregard for more recent famine as well.
• Elected in 2018, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has taken steps to dismantle the authoritarian military government and has promised to better serve the interests of its citizens.

This poem is set during the Ethiopian famine of the mid-1980s. People have gone seven years without any milk, so a birthday party is a reason to dance for joy. People feel lucky to be alive. However, when they clap, they risk breaking their wrists because they are so malnourished. Even the butter their grandmothers make cannot heal their broken bones.

Summary

Purpose

Purpose

Part of Lorde’s goal as a poet was reversing the negative stereotypes and silence she felt society had imposed on black women.

In “Ethiopia,” against the backdrop of devastating famine, she depicts black women as beautiful, strong, and loving.

The Ethiopian Famine

Ethiopia

for Tifa Seven years without milk means everyone dances for joy on your birthday but when you clap your hands break at the wrist and even grandmother's ghee cannot mend the delicate embroideries of bone.

PERSONAL RESPONSE

So far in this unit, you have read two poems that shed light on traumatic global events: "Parsley" by Rita Dove and "Ethiopia" by Audre Lorde. A common way to learn about a historical event is through reading informational texts. However, it can be argued that poetry provides a more personal, emotional lens. How did reading this poem shape your understanding of the impact of the Ethiopian famine? What aspects of a historical event can poetry illuminate more effectively than an informational text? Use text evidence from this poem and perhaps also from "Parsley," as well as original commentary, to support your response.

Thank you!

Use an image

With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight specific phrases or data that will be etched in your audience's memory, and even embed surprising external content: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!