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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. In "chibuku beer and independence," Bessie states that if the government make a statement with no evil in it, then it may be what?

2. According to Bessie, what do African people push aside?

3. In 1975, Botswana had few what?

4. Bessie described her friend, Snowball, as perfectly black except for his what?

5. What did the Durban Magistrate Court tell Bessie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What more compassionate details concerning her mother did Bessie learn over time?

2. Why did Bessie keep all the notes that the American woman gave her?

3. What are Bessie's beliefs about racists?

4. Why is Bessie so drawn to the American woman in "Woman from America"?

5. In "The Old Woman," what is Bessie referring to when she says "Gods walk around Africa barefoot with nothing"?

6. Why is there no rage and oppression in Botswana?

7. How was African Independence celebrated in Botswana?

8. In "The Woman From America," what was the biggest threat that this woman and her husband posed to the village?

9. In 1982, Bessie writes about her reaction when people discussed her writing. Why did she get so frustrated?

10. What lasting effect did the treatment by the missionaries have on Bessie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The artist, Gladys Mgudlandlu, was extremely popular in South Africa because of her escapism theory. Why does Bessie refer to her as "the exuberant innocent"? Does she think of her and her escapism theory as naïve? Does she see it as not wanting to deal with real issues? Do you think Bessie thought it was wrong of her to encourage the black South Africans to just "sit back and let God deal with it"? Was this just offering them a good excuse to do nothing about their situation? If there was no oppression, do you think that this artist would have been as popular?

Essay Topic 2

Bessie's views of the white man were formed at an early age. List two experiences in Bessie's early life that you think had a profound effect on her opinion of the white man? List the experiences and Bessie's response to them. Later in life, Bessie was able to see some good in the white man and her hatred lessened. Explain the person and the circumstances surrounding this.

Essay Topic 3

Khama the Great had a great impact on the history of Botswana. What was his most important accomplishment? Why was he so different? What did he possess that made even the British, stand in awe of him? In a nation of downtrodden people how did he manage to have such strength? How did he retain this and not fall into the doom and despair mind-set of his countrymen? Why did the British give him rights that no black man had ever gotten? Were they not used to seeing integrity and strength in a black man? Do you think that they were afraid of him? What would have been the result for Botswana had he not existed?

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