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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. Who was Steele's editor for The Content of Our Character?

2. What type of shock did Steele say individuals are said to be a part of when in mixed-race situations?

3. Many blacks have chosen to feel what way, according to Steele?

4. How did Steele say blacks should address the methods of creating the black identity?

5. What does Steele say must be shared between blacks and whites?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Steele mean when he said the discussion of race relations has become scripted?

2. How did Steele say the black students in his classes react to discussions of racism?

3. According to Steele, how does black nationalism ultimately affect blacks?

4. Did Steele say racial discrimination is always used as a fair claim by blacks? Why or why not?

5. In Chapter 1, Steele said the only way to do away with racial problems is for all to move from a racial consciousness to a moral consciousness. What does that mean?

6. Steele quoted a former professor by saying, 'Ideas themselves come a dime a dozen.' Why is understanding this relevant to understanding this book?

7. In Chapter 3, how did Steele say blacks deal with racial insecurities?

8. According to Steele, the processes that drives one's mind are standard across racial / ethnic lines. Why is this an important observation?

9. According to Steele, how is the struggle for racial power more of a struggle for innocence for blacks?

10. What effect did Steele say integration shock has on blacks' attitude about racism as a whole? How did he say it affects their individual attitudes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is integration shock, according to Steele? How does race-fatigue lead to integration shock? How do blacks' attitude change with regard to racism? How does this attitude about racism lead to race-holding? Are whites just as susceptible to integration shock as blacks? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

What is the response that Steele notes when he spoke to white students about campus racial tension? What do their responses reveal about their internal feelings of race relations?

Essay Topic 3

Steele mentioned the struggle for racial power is really a struggle for innocence. How do whites portray this innocence? How do blacks portray this innocence? Give specific examples mentioned in the book. How do the two racial groups believe the acquisition of innocence would benefit their own races?

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