Caucasia Study Questions & Topics for Discussion

Caucasia Key Questions

Senna's novel Caucasia traces the imposed separation of Birdie Lee, the youngest daughter in a mixed-race family, from her older sister Cole, the darker of the two mulatto sisters.

1. "Elemeno" is the private language that Birdie and Cole use to communicate with one another. What purpose does this language serve? What does it offer each of them?

2. Cole offers her father proof that his blackness has not been blanched while Birdie's existence challenges this for him. How does he ultimately fail to be a father to his "white" child? In doing so, how does he fail his "black" child as well?

3. Why is Birdie so fascinated with Samantha? Does this fascination trigger the events that eventually guide her back to Cole? If so, how?

4. What are the various kinds of racism that Birdie observes throughout the novel? ...
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