Genesis Begins Again

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. In the 1940s, two psychologists—Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark—performed a landmark social experiment to learn about the psychological consequences of segregation on African American children. This social experiment would later be referred to as “the doll tests.” What happened during this experiment? What did Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark learn as a result of these experiments?

Teaching Suggestion: For students unfamiliar with “the doll tests,” it may be helpful to spend time reviewing their history and larger significance by reading and discussing sources such as the articles below or other resources to investigate the subject further. The “doll tests” repeatedly proved that segregation caused deeply harmful Colorism in Black children.

• This article from Smithsonian magazine discusses the impact of the experiments.
• This article from the website History details the connection between the experiments and the landmark court case.

2. In a 2019 study from Drug and Alcohol Dependence, it was found that “across 17 states in 2002-2014, opioid overdoses were concentrated in more economically disadvantaged zip codes, indicated by higher rates of poverty and unemployment as well as lower education and median household income.” Why might impoverished communities be more likely to experience higher levels of drug addiction? What is the relationship between addiction and poverty in the United States?

Teaching Suggestion: The Effects of Poverty and Addiction is a major theme in the novel. In this prompt, students will explore the relationship between poverty and addiction. There is no definitive answer, but many academic and scientific studies suggest that poverty and drug addiction are tightly linked. In many individuals, the process is cyclical: The behavior of people suffering from addiction leads them into poverty; poverty drives people into addictive behaviors.

• This article by Harvard Health Publishing discusses the intersection of homelessness, poverty, and addiction.
• This article by the Borgen Project (a nonprofit organization that addresses poverty) examines drug addiction and poverty.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Nearly everyone at some point in their lives has dealt with an online or in-person bully. Have you ever experienced bullying? If not, have you ever witnessed someone being bullied? Explain the circumstances and describe what it felt like or what you imagined it felt like for the other person. What were the consequences of the bullying you experienced or witnessed? Finally, what lasting impact, if any, did the bullying have on you or the person who was bullied?

Teaching Suggestion: The Relationship Between Bullying and Self-Acceptance theme is explored throughout the book. The novel shows that for those who have been bullied, standing with confidence is challenging. In this prompt, students will reflect on both the immediate experience (how it feels, what it looks like, etc.) of being bullied, and on the lasting impact that bullying has on someone’s sense of self and self-esteem.

• This article by The McLean Hospital focuses on the mental health impact of bullying.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a kinesthetic approach to the topic of bullying and self-acceptance, it may be helpful to engage students in an interactive activity in which they use conversation, art, or music—such as a poster series or a skit that involves these elements—to build their understanding of how to handle bullying situations.

• This page by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers many different types of activities and games as well as other resources.