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

1. What do you know about the Harlem Renaissance? Can you name any writers associated with it?

Teaching Suggestion: Myers grew up in Harlem after the heyday of the Harlem Renaissance—a revival of African American art in the 1920s and 30s—and did not truly learn about his community’s history until much later in life. However, he did meet the writer most famously associated with the Harlem Renaissance: Langston Hughes. Students may also have heard of Zora Neale Hurston, another widely read figure from the era. Use this prompt to get students thinking about being Black in midcentury America and the importance of Black role models in the formation of identity and voice.

• “An Introduction to the Harlem Renaissance”: Poetry Foundation compilation of major works from the Harlem Renaissance, with accompanying commentary
• “A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance”: an overview of the movement’s history and significance, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture “Our American Story” series

2. Can you think of any famous figures (historical or contemporary) who were adopted? Try to name two to three.