This should be informal prose. Please focus more on content than on form. You will select one theme from the text, select at least one passage from the text, and analyze them. You should pick a topic, make an argument, and use at least one passage from the text to support your claims. You should not write summaries. You should focus on discussing the text itself, and develop your own critical insights. For instance, you might explore biracial issues with colorism in the South in Orlandersmith’s Yellowman. How does Orlandersmith discuss these themes? What is her critique and why? What do you think of her views on these topics? You might argue that she views colorism as a form of power and discrimination. You also might note the role it plays in the (re)production of the family, post-slavery. That could be your focus and argument. Then you should locate at least one passage from the text to support your ideas about this topic. These responses must demonstrate that you have read the works, and thought critically about themes within them over the course of your reading. In addition, you should demonstrate that you can do close readings of the texts by pulling examples from them and analyzing their significance.
Questions To Consider
Colorism is the discrimination or prejudice based on skin tone within an ethnic group. How does colorism impact how Alma and Eugene view themselves?
Does Alma’s and Eugene’s perception of themselves change?
Why is the color of the skin important to the characters in the play?
Can you think of examples from the play that could happen in the world today?
