1) What is the overall context for Ellison’s essay (294-5)? How does the essay describe
Harlem, its setting (295-6)?
2) What is the meaning of the phrase “I’m nowhere” (see 297-8 and 300)? Why do African
Americans in Harlem feel this way? What are the causes of their condition?
3) What is the main psychological effect of Harlem residents’ deferred dreams and
marginalized conditions (301)?
4) Go to the final paragraph of the essay. What kind of conclusion is this? What is Ellison
proposing is the best-case scenario for the patients at the Lafargue clinic? What do you
think this says about the conditions of racism and discrimination in the post-war period in
the U.S.?
5) How does Ellison’s conclusion and his overall points relate to our contemporary
moment? Can you relate to the essay in any way? Explain in as much detail as you can.
A Note on Responses to Your Questions
In your journal entries, you should respond to and try to speculate about possible answers to the
questions that you raise. We’re doing this as homework, so I am not providing an example for
this part of the assignment. Just remember that this will be an important part of your weekly
entries.
Reading Journal Basics
Your journals should be 1-page, double-spaced documents at minimum, and they should be
based on the reading scheduled for the day they are due. They don’t need to be quite as
extensive as this model and you are welcome to experiment with the structure and form of your
reading journals, but you do need to incorporate the three basic elements I have here: 1) a
textual summary with quotation that, overall, is discussing the context from which your
questions are coming 2)
at least two
text-based questions that are not level 1, factual, or yes-or-
no questions but interpretive, critical, and analytical questions that open up onto more questions,
prompt our thinking about significant issues, and lead to further discussion, reflection, and
contemplation. They should also be “real” questions that you have. It’s better to say that you’re
not sure what questions you have and try to do something with your uncertainty (or figure out
what you’re uncertain about) rather than making something up that’s not really true to your own
thinking 3) finally, your journals should include responses to your questions, speculations about
possible answers to them, and/or some discussion about the importance of the issues raised in
your questions.
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