Things to know:Charlie Parker – a Black jazz saxophonist (one of the greats of his time) Nat King Cole – one of the most successful Black singers of the ’50s and early ’60sGene Krupa – a white drummer known for his unique style (he is sometimes called the “father of modern drumming”Cab Calloway – a Black singer, band leader, and actor Billy Eckstine – a Black jazz and pop singerMalcolm X – a Civil Rights activistH. Rap Brown – Civil Rights activist and member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee As we continue our reading this week, some things to consider:In chapters 7 and 8 we get a glimpse into the home life of Ruth as she grows up in Suffolk Virginia in a less-than-loving environment which is juxtaposed against the author’s life in the Red hook section of Brooklyn growing up with11 brothers and sisters. What are the details of Ruth’s family life? What sort of relationship does she have with her parents and siblings? Who is Dennis? By contrast, what is life like for James and his siblings? Does this sound like ahappy home? Why or why not? What do we learn about his mother in each of these chapters? And, do you like the way the author is presenting his story? (Note: there are many cultural references in these chapters, some more easy tounderstand than others. How many of them do you understand? Be sure to look up anything you are unsure of.)In chapter 9 we learn more about Ruth’s life in Virginia and we meet a girl named Frances who turns out to be animportant person in Ruth’s life. We also see some of the seeds of the adult Ruth is going to become. What new thingsdo we learn about Ruth? About her family life? Friends? Life in the Jim Crow South? How does school affect her interms of her sense of self as well as her sense of the outer world?Chapter 10 brings us back to Red Hook and more of the chaotic household that young James and his siblingsendure. Issues of race and ethnicity continue to bother young James as he goes to school and encounters studentsfrom very different backgrounds. Does this help or hinder his awareness of who he is? Why does his mother send himand his siblings to the predominantly Jewish schools? Why does she refuse to answer his questions (saying at onepoint, “Never ask questions or your mind will end up like a rock”)? And can we make any connections between thesetwo chapters (9 and 10) and Jeanne’s experiences as she tries to find her way in school?With chapter 11 the story of Ruth Shilsky’s life in Virginia continues as she falls in love for the first time, and welearn more about what life was like in the Jim Crow South. What is her life like as a teenager? How does she manageto have a secret relationship with Peter? How do you think her mother figures out she is pregnant?In chapter 12 we neet Hunter Jordan, who becomes James’ stepfather. Hunter is an old-fashioned man in manner anddress and attitudes. How does Hunter change the children’s (and Ruth’s) lives. What do you think of their unusualliving arrangement. What does James mean when he says that his stepfather had “no idea of what the sixties meant”?How does the concept of a father affect James as he continues to grow and mature into a young man? At this juncture, can you make any predictions? What are your concerns for the characters? How would you assessthe story thus far?
