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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The essay entitled "Black and Blue" takes its name from a song by what African-American musician?
(a) Jelly Roll Morton.
(b) James Brown.
(c) Fats Waller.
(d) Muddy Waters.

2. What does Kevin Young say in his essay "Blacker Than Thou" that "you have to do...with white people from time to time" (105)?
(a) Throw them a bone.
(b) Humor them.
(c) Wake them up.
(d) Let them win.

3. What musician does Kevin Young name as the most prominent example of a white person living as a black person?
(a) Rufus Wainwright.
(b) Little Richard.
(c) Bobby Darin.
(d) Johnny Otis.

4. What two things does Kevin Young state that people must not have done in a while if they are surprised by "a white lady darkening her skin and curling her hair"? (106)
(a) They have not read the newspapers or watched the news.
(b) They have not opened their eyes or taken a walk.
(c) They have not been out of the house or been online.
(d) They have not watched a sitcom or read a book.

5. How does the author of "The Condition of Black Life is One of Mourning" end her list of rules that she says may help a black person avoid being killed?
(a) No living while black.
(b) No standing your ground.
(c) No walking at night.
(d) No hands in your pockets.

6. What belief did Kiese Laymon's grandmother hold that he points to as the only reason he is alive?
(a) Her belief that he could grow up to be anyone he wanted.
(b) Her belief that hard work could cure any ill.
(c) Her belief that Kiese was a beautiful Southern black boy.
(d) Her belief that what does not kill us makes us stronger.

7. The final line of the poem "Queries of Unrest" references "trying to save them the time of" doing what "to darkness when all they have to do is close their eyes" (100)?
(a) Burying.
(b) Planting.
(c) Witnessing.
(d) Ignoring.

8. Over what river does The High Bridge in New York City pass?
(a) The East River.
(b) The Harlem River.
(c) The Hudson River.
(d) The Bronx River.

9. For the completion of what task did Kiese Laymon's grandmother used to stay up late on Saturday nights?
(a) Washing the kitchen floors.
(b) Doing the laundry.
(c) Studying for her exams.
(d) Sewing her own clothes.

10. When Kevin Young, the author of "Blacker Than Thou" outlines his next book for the reader, under what type of text does he say his new book falls?
(a) Poetry.
(b) Nonfiction.
(c) Satire.
(d) Memoir.

11. What author does the poem "Queries of Unrest" reference in its dedication?
(a) James Baldwin.
(b) Langston Hughes.
(c) Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib.
(d) Walt Whitman.

12. To begin the essay "The Condition of Black Life is One of Mourning," Claudia Rankine relates a story about a friend of hers who had just given birth to a baby boy and whose first thought upon his birth was how she could get him out of the country. This thought occurred to her even before she had performed what two actions?
(a) Checked out of the hospital or brought him home.
(b) Painted the nursery or weaned him.
(c) Potty trained him or weaned him.
(d) Named him or nursed him.

13. To end his essay "Blacker Than Thou," what three fruits does Kevin Young recollect eating in the morning?
(a) Bananas, raspberries, and apples.
(b) Kiwis, mangos, and pears.
(c) Grapes, blackberries, and plums.
(d) Apples, pears, and strawberries.

14. In his essay "Blacker Than Thou," Kevin Young says that "racism's daily injustices are almost" a what "against it" (112)?
(a) An argument.
(b) An insurance policy.
(c) Weapon.
(d) An innoculation.

15. At what university did Kevin Young teach for five years?
(a) The University of Massachusetts.
(b) The University of Washington.
(c) The University of Iowa.
(d) The University of Georgia.

Short Answer Questions

1. After what meal did Kiese Laymon's grandmother make him take a teaspoon of cod liver oil whenever he stayed with her?

2. The series of Know Your Rights murals were placed in all of New York City's burroughs, with the exception of which burrough?

3. When Kiese Laymon was busy analyzing the Outkast song "Wailin'," what was he supposed to be doing instead?

4. Though Mitchell Jackson's father lived no more than a bike ride away from his mother's home, for how many formative years of his life was Mitchell's father absent?

5. From the deaths of Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice, how many indictments were handed down?

(see the answer keys)

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