In chapter 3 of Audre Lorde's Zami, the beginning of the author's journey of learning to read and write is clearly and chronologically shared. Before starting school, the young Miss Lorde's path crosses that of a Mrs. Augusta Baker, a librarian. Mrs. Baker introduced our author to the magical world of literature and is spoken of most fondly; her "good deed" of teaching Lorde how to read is described as saving grace for latter.
Audre Lorde's first teacher - her mother - doesn't sound like the most nicest, open-minded or personally secure of people, but it's obvious that she is revered by her daughter. The best testimony to this is the part where Lorde writes about her mom kissing her after she spoke (versus screaming) her first words: "This was an unprecedented and unusual display of affection in public, the cause of which I did not comprehend. But it was a warm and happy feeling."
"Then came my first rude awakening about school." Nothing after this sentence could be good... and it wasn't. Lorde's kindergarten and first grade teachers were HORRID! Ignorant and egotistical and... and... they were just disgusting and had no business being in charge of these children's precious, innocent and malleable minds and spirits. I don't believe the author described these individuals as demonic (although she easily could have); she simply shared the memories she had of them and left the audience to come to their own conclusions.
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