Question

Reading Check (a) Who are the "people that the speaker refers to in the title and text of "For My People"? (b) in the poem "Incident," what story does the speaker's family tell every year? (c) in "Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper," what job does the speaker recall?​

Answer 1

The texts discussed explore themes of racial identity, historical experiences of African Americans, and recognition of overlooked labor, reflecting on the struggles and contributions of specific people and moments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The "people" that the speaker refers to in the title and text of "For My People" by Margaret Walker are African Americans, specifically those who have struggled and continue to struggle for freedom and equality. In the poem "Incident" by Countee Cullen, the speaker's family tells the story of a traumatic event that occurred during the speaker's childhood when they encountered racism in Baltimore. Finally, in "Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper" by Martín Espada, the speaker recalls the job of working in a print shop and reflects on the labor and effort put into the creation of paper that often goes unrecognized and undervalued.

The answers to these questions reveal the thematic explorations of these poems such as racial identity, historical experiences of African Americans, and the consideration of often overlooked labor in society.