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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 question does Rankine ask about white being being able to speak to their own whiteness in Part I?

2. What does Notes on the State of Virginia conclude about the memories of Blacks and whites?

3. Why did one white friend of Rankine's tell her she had to defend her to her other white friends often?

4. What does Rankine say she wants her daughter to be able to "negotiate the world" with?

5. How does the writer Rachel Kaadzi Ghanash describe the online community of violent white supremacists like the 2015 Charleston church shooter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is one problem Rankine has with the scenario her white friend on a diversity training tells her about regarding a classroom situation?

2. What historical document from the 1700s does Rankine include extensive sections of in Part II?

3. What is the origin of this book's title?

4. What is a major reason Rankine decides to go to marriage counseling with her husband?

5. What is the significance of the "Unite the Right" rally that took place in Charlottesville Virginia in 2017, according to Rankine?

6. In Part II, why does a white friend of Rankine's tell her she has to defend Rankine to her own white friends?

7. Why does Rankine undertake a series of casual conversations with white male travelers on airplanes?

8. What assertion that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kanavagh made in his senate confirmation hearing does Rankine take issue with in Part I?

9. What does Rankine worry about regarding the way many people - teachers included - seem to view Black children in general?

10. How does Rankine feel contemplating the overwhelmingly white parents and teachers at her daughter's school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Rankine chose to begin asking white men specifically in airports and on planes about their own perceptions of white male privilege? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay discussing the symbolism and significance behind blond hair in Rankine's lengthy analysis of it, especially regarding women of color's decision to dye their hair blonde.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing Rankine's treatment of the broad theme of conversations. What does Rankine seem to believe conversations can accomplish - and fail to accomplish - when it comes to a national conversation in America about race and racism?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample