How have Bakari’s childhood and his hometown shaped his values and his sense of identity? How have your own childhood and hometown shaped who you are today?

Readers should consider the chapters in which Bakari discusses the experiences of his childhood, as well as the connections that he draws between his later life and those formative experiences. Readers should also compare and contrast those connections with their connections to their own hometowns and childhood.

How has the life of Bakari’s father influenced Bakari’s personal goals and perspectives? In your own life, what people have had the greatest influence on you, and how?

Early in the text, Bakari dedicates a significant portion of the book to discussing the life of his father, and how his father’s goals and experiences affected Bakari’s own trajectory in life. The readers should discuss the nature of such...