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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 1964, where did Bessie move to?

2. What did Bessie learn to hate?

3. What does Snowball believe can co-exist?

4. Who raised Bessie?

5. In "The woman from America," who does Bessie say are always in the majority?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bessie describe the Botswana flag to students during the independence celebration?

2. Why was Bessie given up for adoption?

3. In "preface to Witchcraft," why is Bessie angry with South Africa?

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

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

6. In "A Gentle People," what are Bessie's feelings regarding the black people of Cape Town?

7. In "Village People," how does Bessie describe the black African people?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "An unspeakable crime", Bessie expresses her disdain of the Coloured Affairs Department. What are they doing in Port Elizabeth and Capetown that she disagrees with? Describe the actions of the coloureds, whom she feels are accessories to the crime. Are they ashamed of their actions? Should they be? Do you think that they truly don't know their own minds and think that the Coloured Affairs Department knows what's best for their children? Or, do they see the situation for what it is and go along with it because it's the only way to survive?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

The American woman filled Bessie's world when she arrived in Serowe. Describe her physical characteristics. What made her stand out in the village? What did Bessie come to see her as? If Bessie would have been a more religious person, do you think she would have attributed the "Nigra Goddess" characteristics to the American woman? Was this filling a void for her where religion might have been? Or, do you think that she truly saw God in this woman? The American woman could at times be harsh with Bessie. Was this fair to Bessie? Was there any way that the she could relate to the horrors that Bessie had experienced in her life? Do you think that she was harsh because she thought that Bessie was self-absorbed? Or, do you think that she was harsh because she was trying to encourage Bessie to close the door on the past and move forward by thinking of and helping others?

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