Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Character Experiences Paired with Great Works”

In this activity, students demonstrate their understanding of the impact of racial prejudice and discrimination on the novel’s characters by pairing characters with famous works of art on this topic.

Although most of the characters in this novel are Black and must contend with living in a world where racial prejudices result in discrimination, not all of the characters experience this in the same way. They live in different time periods, for one thing, and they have individual personalities and circumstances that also create differences in the way they experience racial prejudices. For this activity, you will choose three characters and consider how prejudice impacts them. Then, you will choose a work of art to represent each character’s experience.

Choose Three Characters and Gather Evidence

• Choose three characters from the following list:

○ Candice Miller

○ Enoch Washington

○ Siobhan Washington

○ Leanne Washington

○ Reggie Bradley

○ Adam Douglas

• Make some notes for yourself about what kinds of discrimination and prejudice the three characters face. Also make some notes about how they feel and think about their experiences.