1) The document provides discussion questions for a class reading and analyzing an excerpt from the autobiographical novel "Black Boy" by Richard Wright about his experiences with hunger and racism in the early 1900s. 2) The questions prompt analysis of how Wright's hunger and his mother's attitude changes throughout the story, his experience fighting a gang after being sent out by his mother, and whether his life will be different after winning the fight. 3) Students are asked to consider if the same events could happen today and how society may be the same or different.

1. ELA 10B Equality Mr. Germann
from Black Boy
By Richard Wright
1. Read the essay aloud in small groups.
a. These groups will be chosen by the teacher.
2. Discuss the essay, using the following questions as starting
points.
Have a written response for each question for marking.
a. Explain how the author’s hunger has changed?
b. Why isn’t there any food in the Wright household?
c. How does Mrs. Wright’s attitude toward her situation
change?
d. How does Richard first feel about being given the
responsibility of shopping? How does this feeling change?
Why?
e. Why does Mrs. Wright send Richard out to fight?
f. What does Richard do to the gang?
g. Do you approve of Mrs. Wright’s forcing Richard out to face
the gang with a stick? Why or why not?
h. Do you think Richard’s life will be different after he wins the
fight?
i. Think about
1. possible changes in his relationship with his
mother
2. possible changes in his relationship with
neighbors
3. possible changes in feeling about himself
Response Journal
1) The event in the selection occurred around 1913. Could the
same thing happen today? If it did, what would be the same and
what would be different? If not, why not?

2. ELA 10B Equality Mr. Germann
Day Work
By James P. Comer
Pre-Reading
Prepare yourself to discuss the situations many blacks faced in the past.
Read
Read the excerpt silently.
Post-Reading
A large group discussion will take place using the following questions as starting points.
1. What is day work?
2. Why was day work like “going to school” for Maggie Comer?
3. When the guest (p. 523) refers to Maggie’s daughter as “nigger
girl”, what does this suggest about her?
4. When Maggie pretends not to hear the offensive remarks about her
daughter, she is demonstrating “grace under pressure”. What does
this mean?
5. What single word would you use to describe Maggie?