Discuss the treatment of racial identity in the poetry of Hughes and Cullen.

Write a brief paragraph addressing the questions and
including specific evidence to support your ideas.

1. In Richard Wright’s story, how are the ideas of
masculinity and race connected? Do all
the characters agree about the nature of this connection?
2. Discuss the
treatment of racial identity in the poetry of Hughes and Cullen. Do these two poets conceive of race and its
concerns in the same way? How do they
think about the future of this issue in America?
3. On the
surface, Hurston’s story seems to discount the idea of a deep racial divide in
America. Is this impression
accurate? Does it hold up when her work
is examined closely?

Readings:

Norton,
Volume D

·
Zora Neale Hurston (page 515), “How It Feels to be Colored Me”
·
Jean Toomer (page 617), all selections
·
Langston Hughes (page 833), all selections
·
Countee Cullen (page 853), all selections
·
Richard Wright (page 957), “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”

Levine, Robert S. The
Norton Anthology of American Literature. 9th ed. Volumes D. ISBN-13:
9780393264555
**** Book Attached

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