View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which two characters go to Chicago first?

2. Who does Richard find is trying to oust him from his position at the Federal Negro Theater?

3. What is the name of the John Reed Club magazine?

4. What does the black comrade tell Richard would bolster his credibility?

5. Where does RIchard take a job?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Richard find Chicago so startling?

2. What problems does Wright find in New York City?

3. In what way does Richard's situation take a turn for the worse when the Great Depression hits America?

4. What does Richard realize as he stands in line at the relief station?

5. How do the white employers at the optical factory arrange a boxing match between Richard and Harrison?

6. Why does Bill terrify Richard?

7. Why does Richard want to read H.L Mencken?

8. What does Richard decide at the end of the book?

9. Who was Marcus Garvey?

10. Why does Mrs. Moss end up disgusting Richard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the values of early 20th century America

1) How did the whites view blacks in the early 20th century?

2) What significant changes do you think occurred during this period that changed the way whites viewed blacks?

3) Does today's society share any values with early 20th century America?

Essay Topic 2

Why did Richard develop sympathies towards the Communist Party? How did Wright view Communist ideas later on in life?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the differences between the North and the South.

1) How did whites treat blacks differently in the South than they did in the North?

2) Why did black people stay in the South when people viewed it as so racist?

3) Why does Richard find life in the North just as unsatisfactory as he found life in the South?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 820 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample