Anna Karpinski " The Cake: Poland 1970"
The Cake is written from memories of a day from my childhood in Poland. It was 1970 and the first wave of organized strikes against the Communist Party had just begun. There were shortages of most foods and basic merchandise. People lived on ration cards for goods such as meat, milk, butter, sugar, coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. When the government imposed sudden price hikes on already difficult to purchase goods, people protested on the streets, and workers held strikes in the factories. These were met with severe oppressive measures from the government.
I vividly recall this one day in particular because we were planning my aunt's birthday party. Organizing a party during these times was a surreal task; a slap at the reality of the times. On this day it felt like we created cracks in our conditions and rose above the walls around us. My memory of this day shines brilliant like a diamond in a coal mine.
I vividly recall this one day in particular because we were planning my aunt's birthday party. Organizing a party during these times was a surreal task; a slap at the reality of the times. On this day it felt like we created cracks in our conditions and rose above the walls around us. My memory of this day shines brilliant like a diamond in a coal mine.
Public parade/protest during that time in Poland
My family, (my mother Mirka, father Jurek, sister Elwirka and myself).
