1. In Canto III: Free Chapter 15: "Trigger Warning," how does the concept of "prison abolition" (192) relate to Hari's exploration of sexual violence and healing?

2. In Canto III: Free Chapter 14: "A Prayer for Healing," describe Hari's reflection on the concept of "social distancing" (183) and its implications for different groups within society.

3. In Canto II: Queer Chapter 9: "Representation Matters?", discuss the role of visibility and representation in the case of El-Amin and its failure at the intersection of Blackness. How does this case highlight the challenges of evoking empathy in a world that does not empathize with Black people.

4. In Canto II: Queer, Chapter 11: "My Gender is Black," how does Hari's understanding of his nonbinary gender identity challenge traditional concepts of gender?

5. In Canto III: Free Chapter 15: "Trigger Warning," analyze the impact of societal norms on how sexual violence is perceived and labeled. How does Hari's experience challenge conventional notions of victimhood

6. In Canto III: Free Chapter 16: "A Prayer for Freedom," examine Hari's unresolved conversation with his mother about his essay on childhood sexual abuse. What does this reveal about the challenges of discussing sensitive topics within families?

7. In Canto II: Queer, Chapter 12: "A Prayer for New Language," how does Hari's experience with Lisa shed light on the challenges of maintaining friendships while in a romantic relationship?

8. In Canto II: Queer, Chapter 10: "A Prayer for Choice", how does the metaphor of being "buried" and "digging" (136) relate to Hari's struggles with self-acceptance and societal norms?

9. In Canto III: Free Chapter 14: "A Prayer for Healing," how does Hari draw a connection between historical colonization and current global health challenges? What impact does this connection have on marginalized communities?

10. In Canto II: Queer, Chapter 13: "Logging Out of Passport Twitter," how does the theme of anti-Blackness shape the events and interactions found in the chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the memoir, Ziyad engages with the concept of otherness. Analyze the ways in which Hari challenges the idea of being an outsider and explores the complexities of being both different from and similar to others.