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THEFOURTHOFJULYAudreLorde1ThefirsttimeIwenttoWashingtonD.C.wasontheedgeofthesummerwhenIwassupposedtostopbeingachild.Atleastthat'swhattheysaidtousallatgraduationfromtheeighthgrade.MysisterPhyllisgraduatedatthesametimefromhighschool.Idon’tknowwhatshewassupposedtostopbeing.Butasgraduationpresentsforusboth,thewholefamilytookaFourthofJulytriptoWashingtonD.C.,thefabledandfamouscapitalofourcountry.DetailedReading2ItwasthefirsttimeI'deverbeenonarailroadtrainduringtheday.WhenIwaslittle,andweusedtogototheConnecticutshore,wealwayswentatnightonthemilktrain,becauseitwascheaper.3.Preparationswereintheairaroundourhousebeforeschoolwasevenover.Wepackedforaweek.Thereweretwoverylargesuitcasesthatmyfathercarried,andaboxfilledwithfood.Infact,myfirsttriptoWashingtonwasamobilefeast;Istartedeatingassoonaswewerecomfortablyensconcedinourseats,anddidnotstopuntilsomewhereafterPhiladelphia.IrememberitwasPhiladelphiabecauseIwasdisappointednottohavepassedbytheLibertyBell.4.Mymotherhadroastedtwochickensandcutthemupintodaintybite-sizepieces.Shepackedslicesofbrownbreadandbutter,andgreenpepperandcarrotsticks.Therewerelittleviolentlyyellowicedcakeswithscallopededgescalledmarigolds,thatcamefromCushman'sBakery.Therewasaspicebunandrock-cakesfromNewton's,theWestIndianbakeryacrossLenoxAvenuefromSt.Mark'sschool,andicedteainawrappedmayonnaisejar.Thereweresweetpicklesforusanddillpicklesformyfather,andpeacheswiththefuzzstillonthem,individuallywrappedtokeepthemfrombruising.And,forneatness,therewerepilesofnapkinsandalittletinboxwithawashclothdampenedwithrosewaterandglycerineforwipingstickymouths.5.IwantedtoeatinthediningcarbecauseIhadreadallaboutthem,butmymotherremindedmefortheumpteenthtimethatdiningcarfoodalwayscosttoomuchmoneyandbesides,younevercouldtellwhosehandshadbeenplayingalloverthatfood,norwherethosesamehandshadbeenjustbefore.MymothernevermentionedthatBlackpeoplewerenotallowedintorailroaddiningcarsheadedsouthin1947.Asusual,whatevermymotherdidnotlikeandcouldnotchange,sheignored.Perhapsitwouldgoaway,deprivedofherattention.6.IlearnedlaterthatPhyllis'shighschoolseniorclasstriphadbeentoWashington,butthenunshadgivenherbackherdepositinprivate,explainingtoherthattheclass,allofwhomwerewhite,exceptPhyllis,wouldbestayinginahotelwherePhylliswouldnotbehappy,meaning,Daddyexplainedtoher,alsoinprivate,thattheydidnotrentroomstoNegroes.Westilltakeamong-youtoWashington,ourselves,myfatherhadavowed,andnotjustforanovernightinsomemeaslyfleabaghotel.7.InWashingtonD.C.,wehadonelargeroomwithtwodoublebedsandanextracotforme.Itwasaback-streethotelthatbelongedtoafriendofmyfather'swhowasinrealestate,andIspentthewholenextdayafterMasssquintingupattheLincolnMemorialwhereMarianAndersonhadsungaftertheD.A.R.refusedtoallowhertosingintheirauditoriumbecauseshewasBlack.OrbecauseshewasColored,myfathersaidashetoldusthestory.ExceptthatwhatheprobablysaidwasNegro,becauseforhistimes,myfatherwasquiteprogressive.8.IwassquintingbecauseIwasinthatsilentagonythatcharacterizedallofmychildhoodsummers,fromthetimeschoolletoutinJunetotheendofJuly,broughtaboutbymydilatedandvulnerableeyesexposedtothesummerbrightness.9.IviewedJulysthroughanagonizingcorollaofdazzlingwhitenessandIalwayshatedtheFourthofJuly,evenbeforeIcametorealizethetravestysuchacelebrationwasforBlackpeopleinthiscountry.10.Myparentsdidnotapproveofsunglasses,noroftheirexpense.11.Ispenttheafternoonsquintingupatmonumentstofreedomandpastpresidenciesanddemocracy,andwonderingwhythelightandheatwerebothsomuchstrongerinWashingtonD.C.,thanbackhomeinNewYorkCity.Eventhepavementonthestreetswasashadelighterincolorthanbackhome.12.LatethatWashingtonafternoonmyfamilyandIwalkedbackdownPennsylvaniaAvenue.Wewereapropercaravan,motherbrightandfatherbrown,thethreeofusgirlsstep-standardsin-between.Movedbyourhistoricalsurroundingsandtheheatofearlyevening,myfatherdecreedyetanothertreat.Hehadagreatsenseofhistory,aflairforthequietlydramaticandthesenseofspecialnessofanoccasionandatrip.13.Shallwestopandhavealittlesomethingtocooloff,Lin?14.Twoblocksawayfromourhotel,thefamilystoppedforadishofvanillaicecreamataBreyer'sicecreamandsodafountain.Indoors,thesodafountainwasdimandfan-cooled,deliciouslyrelievingtomyscorchedeyes.15.Cordedandcrispandpinafored,thefiveofusseatedourselvesonebyoneatthecounter.TherewasIbetweenmymotherandfather,andmytwosistersontheothersideofmymother.Wesettledourselvesalongthewhitemottledmarblecounter,andwhenthewaitressspokeatfirstnooneunderstoodwhatshewassaying,andsothefiveofusjustsatthere.16.Thewaitressmovedalongthelineofusclosertomyfatherandspokeagain.IsaidIkingiveyoutotakeout,butyoucan'teathere,sorry.Thenshedroppedhereyeslookingveryembarrassed,andsuddenlyweheardwhatitwasshewassayingallatthesametime,loudandclear.17.Straight-backedandindignant,onebyone,myfamilyandIgotdownfromthecounterstoolsandturnedaroundandmarchedoutofthestore,quietandoutraged,asifwehadneverbeenBlackbefore.Noonewouldanswermyemphaticquestionswithanythingotherthanaguiltysilence.Butwehadn'tdoneanything!Thiswasn'trightorfair!Hadn'tIwrittenpoemsaboutfreedomanddemocracyforall?18.Myparentswo