In Rivera's story "African Passions," parental approval of their child's marriage partner is largely determined by economic status. Create a survey that asks specific questions about factors that are important to parents in approving a mate for their child. Hand out the survey to as many people as you can, then compile the data and write a report on the conclusions that you find. What were the most prevailing issues? Were they economically based? What role does religion or education play? Were there any concerns about same sex or bi-racial marriages? Were issues of culture raised? How often were abstract concepts such as love, beauty, peace of mind, or happiness considered?

One of the challenges that face the characters in "African Passions" is finding a place to bury their pet cat. Research the laws in your state governing the burial of pets...