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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Steele, what did he have to remember and forget when writing?
(a) That he was poor.
(b) That he was black.
(c) That he was a man.
(d) That he was white.

2. According to Steele, what race is considered the most 'despised' race?
(a) Latinos.
(b) Blacks.
(c) Asians.
(d) Whites.

3. Of the following, what did Chapter 4 say freedom brought for blacks?
(a) Happiness.
(b) Wealth.
(c) Love.
(d) Stresses.

4. According to Steele's outlook, what controls how blacks react to their problems?
(a) Racial vulnerability.
(b) Social vulnerability.
(c) Sexual vulnerability.
(d) Mental vulnerability.

5. Whose independence is said by Steele to be oppressed by the black identity?
(a) Individualistic blacks.
(b) Those who live under the 'white identity'.
(c) Individualistic whites.
(d) All mankind.

Short Answer Questions

1. When someone uses their race to avoid addressing how he / she really feels about something, the person is engaging in what, said Steele?

2. When one rejects responsibility, what does Steele say that individual is also rejecting?

3. In what ways did Steele say blacks are excommunicated by their race when they create their own individual identity?

4. Methods of creating a black identity is also known as what, said Steele?

5. What did Steele learn about himself when writing The Content of Our Character?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Steele say race is a source of shame for blacks, but didn't say the same for whites?

2. According to Steele, the processes that drives one's mind are standard across racial / ethnic lines. Why is this an important observation?

3. In Steele's opinion, why is the black, underclass group continually expanding?

4. As per Steele's philosophy, why do blacks many times avoid opportunities?

5. In line with Steele's experience, how are individualistic blacks received by those who have conformed to the 'black identity'?

6. Steele talks about forgetting that he is black while writing this book. What did he mean by that?

7. In Chapter 1, Steele said the only way to do away with racial problems is for all to move from a racial consciousness to a moral consciousness. What does that mean?

8. Steele said the 60's were turbulent. What are two of the race related movements that took place in that decade?

9. What are the three ways that Steele said integration shock manifests as segregation?

10. How did Steele mention individualism is powerful? What did he say it requires people to do? What could be the drawbacks of it?

(see the answer keys)

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