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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 type of shock did Steele say individuals are said to be a part of when in mixed-race situations?

2. Of the following, which is a method mentioned in Chapter 4 of creating a black identity?

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

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

5. Steele said that blacks do not know how to do what?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How did Steele say the black students in his classes react to discussions of racism?

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

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

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. Steele articulated, when blacks feel powerless in white society, they deal with it in one of two ways, by challenging or bargaining. Describe what he means by this.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What did Steele say about enemy-memory? What is it? How does a defensive attitude result from it? How does it affect the progress of those who practice it?

Essay Topic 2

What is the black power movement? What type of people did Steele say were generally a part of the movement? Did it affect blacks in a positive and / or negative way? How did it affect whites? What about society as a whole? Is the movement still in effect today? If so, in what ways. If not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

Steele points out that the only way to resolve racial issues is to approach them with moral consciousness rather than racial consciousness. What is moral consciousness? What is racial consciousness? What type of 'consciousness' did Steele say blacks had until the early 60's? What was their 'consciousness' from the late 60's to the 70's? What effect did this have on blacks?

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