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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 "God and the underdog," Bessie states that there is nothing that moves her more deeply than what?

2. What special category did Bessie see her writing in?

3. In old African custom, what were women forbidden to handle?

4. What is the meaning of "didactic" works?

5. What is a "bogadi," in African culture?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "A Note on Rain Clouds," what does Bessie state is thwarting young, idealistic, black men and their ideals?

2. Why does Bessie think of the American woman as some sort of goddess?

3. How are Bessie and the American woman different?

4. What was Bessie's life like during the two years that she lived in the refugee community in northern Botswana?

5. When Bessie arrived in Botswana in 1964, what were the major differences that she noticed between that country and South Africa?

6. Why does Bessie consider Botswana the "most unique and distinguished country in Africa"?

7. In the conclusion of Chapter 2, how does Bessie summarize her life experiences?

8. In "God and The Underdog," what does Bessie feel fuels revolutions?

9. In "African Religions," what, does Bessie state is the main difference between Asian and African religious ideals?

10. In "Makeba Music," how does Bessie describe the musician, Makeba?

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

In Ellen Kuzwayo's "Call me Woman," she describes her life before and after oppression. What was her life like before? What was the view of South African then? What kind of work was her family involved in? What kind of education did she have? Ellen was a part of the first groups of educated blacks that felt leadership should be based on merit, not ethnicity. What event changed her life drastically? Do you think she was at all prepared to be thrust into a world of instant poverty, violence, and suffering? How did she deal with it? Do you think that it's easier for someone to accept this, if they've been born into it and it's all they've ever known, rather than someone, like Ellen, who knew a good life and then was forced to give everything up?

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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