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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 does Malcolm notice about the white men he escorts into Harlem?

2. What does Malcolm say is the equivalent of money in prison?

3. What does Malcolm use to visit his home town?

4. What is the title of this first chapter?

5. What is Malcolm's hairstyle called?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Malcolm's parents.

2. How did Malcolm feel the press are trying to divide the black community?

3. What is the main thing Malcolm says he gets out of dating a white woman?

4. How does Malcolm get started on narcotics?

5. How do the whites react to Malcolm having a relationship with a white woman?

6. How does Malcolm's trip to Boston change him?

7. What does Malcolm do when detectives began trailing him?

8. Describe West Indian Archie.

9. Briefly describe the history of Harlem outlined in this chapter.

10. What does Malcolm learn when he moves to Boston?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at Spike Lee's adaptation of the book. Is it how the students would visualize the book? Do the students think the film is objective? What new meaning do the students think that Denzel Washington and Spike Lee bring to the work? How different do the students think the film would be if it were directed by a white director or starred, for example, Samuel Lee Jackson?

Essay Topic 2

How much do you think Malcolm X changed positive representations of African American culture? Is Malcolm's influence still felt today? Are there books, music or even celebrities that derive from Malcolm X's beliefs? What positive impact have Malcolm X's ideas had on society? Do you think Malcolm's ideas have had any negative impacts upon society?

Essay Topic 3

At one point the book uses Boston as a setting.

1) What meaning does Boston bring to the book? What would you automatically link with someone who grew up in Boston?

2) How different do you think today's Boston is to the Boston in the book? How do you think the book's meaning would change if it were set in today's Boston?

3) How do you think the setting contributes to the book's humor?

(see the answer keys)

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