Page 1149 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Prepare to discuss the following questions in class by thinking about
them or writing about them in your journal.

1. The author asks “Why did the black kids separate themselves?”

What do you believe is the answer to that question?

2. Is there still a “black table”? Are there other identifiable groups

that choose to sit together? If so, why?

Topics for Writing

Journal Entry or Essay 1: Struggle for Acceptance

Lawrence Otis Graham was a part of the first wave of African

Americans to desegregate schools and colleges, but taking part in a
broad struggle for social change did not exempt him from a personal

struggle for acceptance. Being insulted by peers or excluded from a

friend’s bar mitzvah is important in school, but when you enter the

workforce, you will struggle for acceptance from your bosses, your

coworkers, and your clients. How will you meet the expectations of

these groups?

Essay 2: Is the “Black Table” Still There?

When you were in middle or high school, was there a “black table” in

the cafeteria? Were there tables where other identifiable groups

gathered? If so, describe the various tables and explain why you

believe they still exist.

Essay 3: Pressure to Conform