Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Act I

Reading Check

1. What is Sturdyvant’s attitude toward Ma Rainey?

2. What does Levee plan to sell to Sturdyvant?

3. What is the conflict between Levee and the others over “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”?

4. What does Levee say Toledo’s brogans say about him?

5. In what way is Toledo different from the other band members?

6. What does Levee believe about God?

7. With what religious figure does Levee identify?

8. When Levee says he would join up with Eliza Cotter if he could, what does Cutler accuse Levee of?

9. Who is late to the recording session?

10. What is Ma’s opinion of Levee’s version of “Black Bottom”?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does Levee mean when he calls the band’s music “jug-band”?

2. What does Toledo mean when he says Slow Drag’s plea to Cutler for the reefer is “African”?

3. What does Toledo say is keeping the Black man from finding out who he is?

4. What does Toledo say is “the trouble with colored folks”?

5. According to Toledo, who needs to “solve the colored man’s problems”?

6. How does Irvin protect Ma from the police officer?

7. In what ways does the band’s talk about Ma differ from that of other women?

8.