Deacon King Kong

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. One of the most important relationships in the novel is the bond between Sportcoat and his mentee, Deems. Have you ever mentored someone else? What did you seek to teach your mentee, and did you learn anything about yourself in the process?

2. The novel focuses on the Brooklyn neighborhood around the Cause Houses and examines the theme of community resilience. What communities do you belong to, and what factors do you consider essential for a strong community?

3. The novel’s protagonist has two foster sons, and parenthood is an important part of his characterization. Consider a parent, father figure, or mentor who has played an important role in your life. What lessons did they teach you about life and about yourself? 

4. In Deacon King Kong, people who rely on one another succeed while those who are selfish and isolated fail. Within your own life and community, have you seen this hold true? Share an example to support your response.

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In Deacon King Kong, McBride examines issues like racism, poverty, and addiction. How do the problems in the novel continue to affect contemporary US society?

2. How does the novel contribute to your understanding of social change in the late-20th century, especially with regard to the pressures faced by Black Americans?

3. How does Sister Gee’s character recognize the importance of women’s work in creating positive social change? What lessons does her character arc offer contemporary community builders?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Sportcoat’s attempt to shoot Deems impact the novel’s structure and represent the older generation’s anger and alarm at the social changes among the younger generation? How does McBride deepen Sportcoat’s connection to the theme of community resilience through the character’s funeral?

2. Father-son relationships are deeply important in the novel, although they affect characters both positively and negatively. Compare and contrast Sportcoat’s relationships with Pudgy Fingers and Deems. To what extent does Sportcoat fulfill his responsibilities to his two foster sons?

3. How do the characters achieve self-realization through their relationships with other members of their families and communities? What message is McBride teaching about the importance of trust and cooperation in the face of social problems like poverty?

4. How does baseball serve as a motif for the theme of community, and how does it inform Sportcoat and Deems’s relationship? What is the thematic resonance of Deems’s return to the sport, and how does this development contribute to the novel’s resolution?

5. How does Hettie shape Sportcoat’s character, both during her life and through her apparitions? What does the end of her ghostly appearances signify about the protagonist’s journey toward self-realization?