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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. Hap's wife convinced the sisters to move to which area?

2. What was the name of the famous club in Harlem that catered to whites?

3. What was the cause of Lucius' death?

4. It was believed that Nanny was beginning to suffer from which of the following?

5. Which of the children died due to a hospital's negligence?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Little Hubie? Why was he special? What happened to the child?

2. How did Nanny's death change Sadie's role in the family? What was the family's reaction to the change?

3. The sisters talk about their situation during World War II. Discuss at least one issue the sisters had at that time.

4. What is written about the assassinations of the famous leaders of the time, particularly those involved in the Civil Rights Movement?

5. What was the general impression of Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s? What was the other side of the situation?

6. What drastic action did the sisters take to care for Nanny?

7. As one might expect, Bessie got the last word in the book. What was Bessie's final insight?

8. The sisters talk about the deaths in the family. Who died first? Could any of the deaths have been prevented? Explain.

9. What prompted the family to move to New York? Who moved to the city first? Why?

10. Explain Bessie's first practice. Who shared the office suite with Bessie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although the Delany family had many admirers, they also had detractors. Examine the type of person that might be most likely to detract from the family's accomplishments. Why do you think some of the lower class black families were resentful of the Delanys? Were they jealous? Did they have the same ambition or opportunities? Why did some think the family was trying to live in a white man's world? What does it mean when people said that the Delanys were trying to live above their station? How did the Delanys react to their supporters and detractors? What is your opinion?

Essay Topic 2

Bessie refers to the Jim Crow laws as being "an ugly, complicated business." (Part 4, chapter 11, page 69) Discuss Jim Crow. Who was Jim Crow? Was he a real person? What were the Jim Crow laws? When and why were they put into effect? Were the laws state or federal laws? Where were the laws observed? Where were they broken? Why did Bessie think that they were ugly and complicated? Are the Jim Crow laws still in effect? If so, where? How would the laws apply today?

Essay Topic 3

Even at their advanced ages Bessie and Sadie are completely independent. The sisters say that many people do not believe that they do not have a maid or helpers of any kind. Explain why people are so surprised at the sisters' level of independence. Do you think they could handle any situation that would arise at their home? Who helped with outside chores such as banking and grocery shopping? How were the neighbors involved in the sisters' lives?

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