Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. With what novels are you familiar that touch on issues of race and/or immigration? Include both classic works of literature and modern titles.

Teaching Suggestion: Encourage students to think about titles that address race and immigration in particular. If they struggle to do so, especially with regard to older titles traditionally taught, point out that many pieces considered “classic” often do not incorporate fully-developed characters of color.

• The Greenwich Library compiled a list of “Ten Contemporary Novels on the Immigrant Experience in America.”
• Pen America has put together a “Black Literature – Past, Present, and Future: A Reading List” that could be useful for students.

2. What do you know about the 1990s? What stands out in terms of pop culture (movies, TV shows, clothes, music, etc.) as well as historical events and social issues?

Teaching Suggestion: The 1990s may not be a time period that students consider “historical,” given the recency of the decade. Also, students may not associate the period with racism or have knowledge of the social trends or movements of the era.