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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. What tennis tournament have the Williams sisters boycotted since 2001?

2. The author describes hearing two men outside a conference room in Chapter 3, when one says to the other that "being around black people is like" what?

3. How many bad calls did the umpire detractor make against Serena Williams in her semifinal matchup in 2004?

4. Whom did Serena Williams play in her semifinal matchup in the 2004 Women's U.S. Open?

5. Where is the school described as being located in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator respond when called by the wrong name by a woman at work in Chapter 3?

2. What does the author suggest as a potential power in racist language in Chapter 3?

3. Who is Franz Fanon and why does the author cite him in Chapter 2?

4. How does the author describe Serena Williams's career in 2012?

5. What theme predominates Chapter 1 of Citizen: An American Lyric?

6. What is symbolized by the imagery on the cover of Citizen: An American Lyric?

7. How is the theme of memory addressed in Chapter 4?

8. Why is the friend upset about hiring an African American in Chapter 1?

9. Who is Judith Butler and why does the author cite her in Chapter 3?

10. How does the author illustrate the differences between white and black experiences in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define and discuss "affirmative action" and how it is applied in the book. When was affirmative action introduced in the United States? How did it change race relations? How did it impact the quality of life for African Americans?

Essay Topic 2

Define "microagression" and discuss how this term applies to Citizen: An American Lyric. Who coined this term? How does it apply in the different scenarios presented by the author? What are your experiences with microagressions?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the events surrounding the Jena Six case. What was the verdict for the Jena Six and why did it cause outrage? What crime was committed? What is the outcome for the Jena Six today?

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