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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. Steele stated that although some of his life experiences may be different from other races, what is true?

2. What two adjectives did Steele use to describe his editor?

3. What did Steele say pride requires of blacks?

4. What president did Chapter 1 say Steele agrees with on many issues?

5. What did Steele say has declined for blacks with respect to whites?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Steele say he was accused of being inauthentic? How do many blacks say Steele views the priority of the black race? Have other blacks followed in Steele's footsteps? If so, how and why?

2. What is Steele's opinion of the black identity?

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

4. In Chapter 3, how did Steele say blacks deal with racial insecurities?

5. In Chapter 2, what does Steele say is the biggest hindrance of black progress? How can whites help?

6. Did Steele say racial discrimination is always used as a fair claim by blacks? Why or why not?

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

8. In order to explain issues specific to race, Steele said it was necessary for him to understand human universals. What was he talking about?

9. What effect did Steele say integration shock has on blacks' attitude about racism as a whole? How did he say it affects their individual attitudes?

10. Steele quoted a former professor by saying, 'Ideas themselves come a dime a dozen.' Why is understanding this relevant to understanding this book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Steele mentioned the struggle for racial power is really a struggle for innocence. How do whites portray this innocence? How do blacks portray this innocence? Give specific examples mentioned in the book. How do the two racial groups believe the acquisition of innocence would benefit their own races?

Essay Topic 2

Rather than doing away with insecurity, Steele noted many blacks respond to the anti-self mindset with denial. What do they deny? What is an example of something they would say or do to exhibit this denial?

Essay Topic 3

How did Steele define 'objective correlative'? What racial group did he say is surrounded by 'objective correlatives? What do these correlatives produce? What example did Steele give of 'objective correlatives'? How did this example affect civil rights leadership?

(see the answer keys)

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