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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the song-and-dance caricature of blacks that developed later into the term "Jim Crow" in referring to African Americans?

2. On what date did the beating take place involving the Jena Six?

3. What word used in Chapter 5 refers to a caste in Hinduism specializing as priests, teachers, and protectors of sacred learning?

4. Chapter 6 is described by the author as a script for what?

5. What was considered to be the murder weapon in James Craig Anderson's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author describe the past in Chapter 5?

2. How does the author describe the effects of Hurricane Katrina in Chapter 6?

3. What theme is explored by the author in examining the Trayvon Martin case in Chapter 6?

4. What does the author state regarding the Jena Six case in Chapter 6?

5. What scenario does the author present when an unnamed man is arrested in Chapter 6?

6. How are "words" presented in Chapter 5?

7. How does the narrator describe overcoming her inner struggle in the conclusion of Chapter 5?

8. How does the term "microaggression" apply in Chapter 5?

9. How does the author juxtapose the reality of Hurrican Katrina victims with their depiction in the media?

10. What is the author referring to when she writes "I was creating a life study of a monumental first person, a Brahmin first person"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of identity in Citizen: An American Lyric. How is identity formed? How are African American identities influenced differently than white identities? How does language relate to identity?

Essay Topic 2

Define "microagression" and discuss how this term applies to Citizen: An American Lyric. Who coined this term? How does it apply in the different scenarios presented by the author? What are your experiences with microagressions?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the images reproduced in Citizen: An American Lyric. How does the inclusion of these images help to support the book's themes? What impact do the images have on you as a reader? What symbolism is seen in the images?

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