The Gilded Ones

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What are the predominant elements of the subgenre “Afrofuturism”? What examples can be identified in media? What characteristics might readers expect to see? How does it both borrow from and transform the genres of fantasy and science fiction?

Teaching Suggestion: If students have little familiarity with Afrofuturism as a subgenre, they might speculate on its characteristics based on images or summaries associated with a few popular titles such as Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred, Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, or Black Panther in the Marvel Universe. This prompt can be used to generate discussion and activate or build knowledge before reading the article that follows.

• This Smithsonian article provides a definition, brief history, and visual examination of the Afrofuturism movement and its dialogue with and impact on popular culture.
• The National Museum of African American History & Culture offers information regarding this subgenre and their exhibit “Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures.”

Short Activity

Work with a partner or small group to answer the following questions. For each question, cite a reputable online source that either aligns with your response or summarizes an event in literature or history that supports your thinking.  

• How does socialization work?
• How do we learn socialization?
• How might socialization support systems of oppression?
• Is this cycle inevitable or are there places where it might be disrupted? If so, how?

When you are finished, pair with another small group and compare your responses and resources. Compile your strongest points and examples in an assigned section of the board, display, or shared file. Respond in your notes: What points of commonality exist between groups? What examples were commonly mentioned? What examples of socialization can you think of in your own life?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to create a class definition for “socialization” before pairs or small groups begin. If the class has access to the noted resource below, the activity might follow a read-and-discuss for the whole class or an individual read-and-reflect in writing. After discussion of the bulleted questions, students may benefit from a direct connection of this topic to the central conflict Deka faces in the novel. Additionally, students may benefit from annotation guides or graphic organizers for notes.

• Bobbi Harro’s The Cycle of Socialization, is a sociological essay that provides a concise framework and neutral language for students to understand and analyze systems of oppression.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Why do people discriminate? In your reflection on this topic, you may choose to cite personal experiences, or you may instead choose to consider current or historical examples or examples from literature.

Teaching Suggestion: Due to the potentially sensitive nature of the prompt, a private, personal response in writing may be the most appropriate strategy; if students want to share and discuss responses to their comfort level, they might review SEL strategies related to difficult topics and established protocols for discussing sensitive topics prior to beginning.