How Dare the Sun Rise

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has made numerous headlines over the years, from female genital mutilation to sexual violence as a wartime tactic. List pieces of information (or speculate about) this human rights crisis in DRC, both past and present. In recent times, what progress has been made in this area? 

Teaching Suggestion: For students who may not be aware of the ongoing crises related to sexual violence against women in the DRC, you may want to first spend time reviewing the infographics and other information in the World Health Organization (WHO) at the link below. You will also want to draw out for students the connection between non-violent norms around The Devaluation of Girls and Women in DRC society and how that creates a climate that permits—and possibly even encourages—sexual violence.

• In 2021, the WHO compiled data from a comprehensive survey relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• World Bank’s “Changing Social Norms and Values to End Widespread Violence Against Women and Girls in DRC” describes how social norms that devalue women in DRC contribute to sexual violence in the region.

Short Activity

The Gatumba Massacre in Burundi occurred on August 13, 2004. Using valid and reputable sources, compile information about this tragedy. What happened during this event? What was the cause of the violence, and who were the victims?

Teaching Suggestion: Unless students have a background in modern African history, you will likely need to cover the full history on the Gatumba Massacre. The massacre is vital historical context that informs Sandra’s unique tale of War and Displacement in How Dare the Sun Rise. If sensitivity is a concern for anyone in the class, direct instruction would limit in-class exposure to resources and images.

• Human Rights Watch’s “Burundi: 15 Years On, No Justice for Gatumba Massacre” is a retrospective on this tragic event written in 2019.
• This video by VOA Africa entitled “Report Documents Impact 2004 Gatumba Massacre” describes the lifelong impact that the event had on survivors.

Personal Connection Prompt

The influx of Ukrainian refugees into the US starting in 2022 brought to light differences in how Black immigrants and immigrants of color are treated compared with white immigrants. In your personal experience, have you observed differences in how immigrants are treated based on race or nationality? Consider TV news reports, magazine articles, and personal discussions you may have participated in or heard.

Teaching Suggestion: As a Black refugee from DRC, throughout much of the book, Sandra grapples with Understanding American Racism. In this response, students will approach this theme from a more modern crisis, the war in Ukraine. 

• PBS’s “In U.S.’s Welcome to Ukrainians, African Refugees See Racial Bias” describes how African refugees felt about American society’s warm reception of Ukrainian refugees.
• CBS News reports that “Black Ukraine Refugees Allege Discrimination While Trying to Escape the Russian Invasion.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced learners, this prompt could be approached as an activity to show how racial discrimination has affected worldwide migration/refugee patterns over a longer span of time. For example, students could organize their research by looking at refugee crises involving white individuals (for example, the European populations that were displaced as a result of World War I and World War II in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, respectively). Students can read The Daily Beast’s “It’s Good to Be a White Refugee” and the Pew Research Center’s “Most Americans Express Support for Taking in Refugees, But Opinions Vary by Party and Other Factors” for further context.)