55 pages • 1 hour read
Julius LesterTo Be a Slave
Nonfiction | Biography | Middle Grade | Published in 1968A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
After Reading
Discussion/Analysis Prompt
Julius Lester wrote To Be a Slave during the civil rights movement. Research the American civil rights movement and Lester’s activism. Create a timeline of important events. Position the publication of To Be a Slave (1968) on your timeline. What are some likely contributing reasons that Lester compiled this text during the civil rights movement?
Before discussing this question, consider the following points:
- What were the aims of the civil rights movement? How do they link to the content of Lester’s text?
- What argument does Lester make concerning Continued Racial Injustice in the United States after the Emancipation Proclamation?
- How is the use of primary sources important in grappling with this continued injustice?
Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to invite students to recall their responses to the Personal Connection Prompt as they contextualize Lester’s text during his time of writing. The education/re-education of individuals regarding the importance of equality for all was a cornerstone of the civil rights movement. Lester’s text would have been instrumental in this re-education, as he wrote the content for an audience of younger readers and used primary sources.
Differentiation Suggestion: For classes without extensive background on the civil rights movement, this prompt may be used as an opportunity to introduce/review both the aims and notable leaders of the movement.
