Week 4 reading questions

1. In DuBois’s essay, what is “the Veil?”

2. What is DuBois’s argument?

3. On whom does DuBois lay the blame for African Americans’ difficulties?

4. In Washington’s view, what is the best method for improving the quality of life for African Americans?

5. What does Washington mean when he refers to “the ordinary process of education” (first sentence of second paragraph, pg. 132)?

6. On whom does Washington lay the blame for African Americans’ difficulties?

7. In Douglass’s essay, what is “the peculiar crime so often imputed to [African-American men]” (225)?

8. On whom does Douglass lay the blame for the continuance of lynch law in the South?

9. Do any of the three essays for today suggest solutions to problems cited in the others?



BONUS! Practice for the final exam:

Assess the validity of this statement:
In the 1890s, the South was the most American part of America.

1. Formulate a tentative thesis.

2. Look over documents to identify evidence. Revise thesis according to this evidence.

3. Outline an essay in response to this prompt.