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Question 1

Repetition: Emphasizes the cyclical, ongoing nature of racism and violence (e.g. KKK); suggests it’s ritualistic and normalised—”they do it every year.”

Structure: Cyclical – starts and ends with the same line to show how history repeats itself.

Pronoun “we”: Positions the speaker as part of the Black community, aligning with her mother’s identity and experiences as a target.

Meaning: Racism is relentless and inescapable; the poem reflects the recurrence of racial trauma.

Answer 1

We tell the story every year

Incident (PT III)

Question 2

Neglect by police: Parallels how her mother was ignored—authorities fail to protect.

“No one raised a hand” (Southern History): Symbol of bystander silence; fear stops resistance.

Minority fear: Too scared to challenge majority—power imbalance.

Personal fear: Speaker knows she could be targeted.

Anticlimax: KKK leaves quietly—fear itself is the violence.

Meaning: Critiques how fear and neglect uphold racism.

Answer 2

No one came. / Nothing really happened.

Incident (PT III)

Question 3

simile (angels): Comparing KKK to angels – ironic/fantastical

Ironic juxtaposition: Angels = protection & divinity → KKK = opposite (evil, harmful)

White gowns: Traditional symbol of purity/innocence – ironic because used by violent racists

Critique: Society views whiteness as pure/innocent even when linked to violence

Answer 3

white as angels in their gowns

Incident (PT III)

Question 4

Symbolic ceremony: KKK burn the Christian cross to intimidate non-white people

“Trussed”: Verb meaning tied up tightly – suggests violence, restraint, no escape

Cross = person: Cross is personified, tied up like a lynched body – visual link to lynching

Lynching imagery: Historical violence against Black people – evokes trauma and injustice

“Like a Christmas tree”: Childlike, naive, ironic – joyful tradition turned sinister

Ironic contrast: Christmas = celebration, innocence → here used to describe terror

Religious imagery: Cross = Jesus’ crucifixion – sacrifice, suffering

Critique: Twisting of Christian symbols to justify hate

Answer 4

cross trussed like a Christmas tree

Incident (PT III)

Question 5

SUMMARY

Answer 5

KKK (Ku Klux Klan)
- Formed after Civil War
- White supremacist, Christian, far-right extremist
- First major U.S. terrorist group

Aims
- Maintain white power
- “Purify” American society (only white, Christian people)

Methods
- Lynching, cross-burning, threats
- Used fear + violence to control Black communities
- Cross-burning = symbolic intimidation

Appearance
- White robes + pointed hoods = disguise + false purity

1920s “One-drop rule”
- Legally, 1 drop of Black blood = Black
- Reinforced segregation + racism
- Lasted until 1960s Civil Rights Movement

Relevance to Trethewey
- Mixed-race, grew up in the Deep South
- how racism was normalised in childhood

Incident (PT III)

Question 6

THEMES

Answer 6

American South, injustice, identity (childhood)

Incident (PT III)