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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. Who narrates the section "Let the church Say 'Amen'"?

2. What does the door person at the new bar Broome goes to in Part III ask him at the door?

3. What does Broome think about love in relation to Black women in Part III?

4. Why does Broome's mother's family urge her to get married in "Let the Church Say 'Amen'"?

5. What word does the man Broome goes home with chant to himself repeatedly before Broome leaves in "Like This"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What television event does Broome's mother get very excited about in "A House is not a Home" ?

2. What does Broome think he has done with Black women throughout his life?

3. In "The Key," what question do prospective partners often ask Broome?

4. In "The Key," what happens when Bertrand actually forces Broome to play basketball?

5. What does Broome think eventually cut his own father off from everything good in his father's life?

6. What does Broome's mother do that Broome's father beats her badly over?

7. What does Broome do as a child that his mother is proud of?

8. What happens when Broome goes home with Jason in "Like This"?

9. What huge lie does Broome's father, Junior, tell his mother?

10. What does Broome notice Tuan's father doing when Tuan starts to cry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Broome is very critical of his father's choices and actions, in the acknowledgements he thanks his father "who taught me many lessons he didn't even know he was teaching" (250). Write an essay exploring why you think Broome thanks his father in this way despite his earlier, sharp criticisms of his father.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the self-destructive behaviors Broome explores and explains throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What influence do the writings and philosophies of James Baldwin have on Broome, as both Broome and the writer of the Introduction, Yona Harvey, explain them? Write an essay describing your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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