THE AFRICAN PICNIC
Who wrote “The African Picnic”?
Elizabeth Alexander
Who wrote “We All Return to the Place Where We Were Born”?
Oscar Gonzales
Who wrote “Mango Poem”?
Regie Cabico
Who wrote “Victory”?
Sherman Alexie
What is identity?
How a person understands who they are and the characteristics, relationships, experiences, and communities that shape them.
Where is the African family having their picnic?
In the USA
What part of the speaker's life does the poem focus heavily on?
Childhood
What fruit is central to the poem?
MANGOS
What sport is central to the poem?
Basketball
Name one thing besides a person's name that can shape identity.
Family, culture, language, community, history, traditions, experiences, etc.
What major international sporting event is happening in the poem?
The World Cup
Who is an important family figure remembered in the poem?
The speaker's grandmother
What country did the family leave?
The Philippines
Why did the speaker take the basketball shoes?
His family could not afford them.
Which poem most strongly connects a food to family history and culture?
“Mango Poem”
What does the poem suggest about the African family living in the United States?
They remain connected to family, culture, places, and people beyond the U.S.
What does the speaker remember about the place where they grew up?
Patios, nature, family, food, stories, and traditions.
Why are the mangos important beyond simply being food?
They connect the family to their homeland, family history, memories, and generations.
How does the speaker's father respond when he learns what happened?
He is emotional but ultimately comforts and cares for his son.
Which two poems strongly explore the relationship between place and identity?
“We All Return to the Place Where We Were Born” and “Mango Poem.”