Schooled

Analyze Lionel’s love of basketball. How does Lionel experience his identity as an athlete? How do sports contribute to his well-being? Does Paul Langan perpetuate or counter stereotypical depictions of the Black athlete?

Consider the novel’s setting. How does Langan depict the majority-Black urban neighborhood? What are the limitations and possibilities of a white perspective on contextualizing Black people’s lives?

Leroy is Lionel’s primary male role model. How does their relationship define Lionel’s actions? What does their bond reveal about Black families? Consider Langan’s perspective as a white author exploring intimate relationships of Black people.

Describe Lionel’s relationships with his friends. How do Jamar and Dontrell differ? How does Lionel relate to them?

Explore Langan’s depictions of school and teachers. How have they failed Lionel? In what ways do they succeed at offering him opportunity?

Discuss the role of Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem” and the rap song in the novel. Why does Langan include these examples of Black cultural expression? What influence do these works have on the characters?

Explore the novel’s take on different kinds of power. What does power signify for Lionel? What is the dominant idea of power in his social context?

Discuss portrayals of adult masculinity, comparing characters like Steve, Leroy, and Jamar’s cousins. Does the novel subvert or reinforce stereotypical notions of Black masculinity? Why or why not?