african american literature MCQs – Page 3

Practise focused african american literature questions with marked answers for exam preparation and subject revision.

african american literature Mcqs
41. W.E.B. Du Bois argued that a liberal arts college education was needed for______________?
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A. African American women.

B. Only White Americans.

C. The Talented Tenth.

D. All African Americans.

42. Booker T. Washingtons message in Up from Slavery is_______________?
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A. African Americans will have to help themselves by becoming educated.

B. African Americans should acculturate to mainstream White culture.

C. White institutions should reform to meet African American needs.

D. Whites should pay reparations to former slaves.

43. Native Son was written by___________________?
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A. Ralph Ellison.

B. Jean Toomer.

C. James Baldwin.

D. Richard Wright.
44. Richard Wright said he created the character of Bigger in Native Son because______________?
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A. He had known many Biggers in his life.

B. He wanted to show African American males how not to live.

C. He was trying to overcome his fears of powerful men.

D. He was proud of all the African American men he had seen stand up to Whites.

45. Brer Rabbit is an example of what kind of character ?
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A. Uncle Tom character who feels slavery is best for the African American

B. Representation of the slave master

C. Victim

D. Trickster
46. The term Civil Disobedience was coined by which author ?
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A. Henry David Thoreau

B. Booker T. Washington

C. William Gates

D. Alain Locke

47. The character of Delia in Zora Neale Hurstons Sweat was influenced by______________?
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A. Her mother.

B. Her best friend.

C. Her relationship with a patron.

D. Her job as a waitress.

48. Yusef Komunyakaas Blue Dementia is an example of what kind of poetry ?
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A. Jazz poetry

B. Lyric poetry

C. Protest poetry

D. Romantic poetry

49. In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man, living underground is symbolic of_____________?
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A. The narrators invisibility to society.

B. The narrators attempt to stay hidden.

C. The narrators attempt to stay out of prison.

D. The narrators desire to be safe.

50. Harriet Jacobs wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl to show______________?
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A. That female slaves were escaping more frequently than men.

B. That female slaves were more valuable than male slaves.

C. How slavery was worse for men.

D. How females were affected by slavery.
51. Who introduced the character of the tragic mulatto ?
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A. William Wells Brown

B. Harriet Beecher Stowe

C. Harriet Jacobs

D. Lydia Maria Child
52. W.E.B. Du Bois accuses Booker T. Washington of being______________?
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A. A Christian.

B. A coward.

C. An accomodationist.

D. A radical.

53. Although different in tone, Soujourner Truths Aint I a Woman and David Walkers Appeal in Four Articles are similar in what way ?
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A. Their belief that women should have equal rights.

B. Their appeals to Christians.

C. Their belief that African Americans should govern themselves.

D. Their belief in necessary violence.

54. Why did Marcus Garvey spearhead the Back to Africa Movement ?
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A. He had to leave the country.

B. Because in was cheaper to live in Africa.

C. Because he did not feel African Americans would ever achieve equality in America.

D. He was asked by African countries to bring African Americans to Africa.

55. In the poem When Malindy Sings, Paul Laurence Dunbar uses irony and caricature to signify on white assumptions about African Americans. What does Henry Louis Gates term signify mean ?
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A. Making sure that what is written makes sense.

B. Lying to mislead the reader.

C. Giving words double meaning that appear differently to white and black readers.

D. Fixing words with very specific meanings.

56. The theme of Phillis Wheatleys On Being Brought from Africa to America is_______________?
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A. Christians should free their slaves.

B. Slaves are the children of Cain.

C. Slaves should rebel against the Christian religion.

D. Slaves are capable of becoming good Christians.
57. Charles W. Chesnutt used vernacular speech to________________?
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A. To encourage feelings of pride in African American readers

B. Make his written inaccessible to white audiences

C. Explain how African Americans could not learn standard English

D. Challenge American stereotypes about race
58. What is the subject of Lucille Cliftons the lost baby poem ?
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A. A child dying of SIDS.

B. The stillborn death of a child.

C. A murdered child.

D. Abortion.
59. What source did David Walker rely on the most for support in Appeal in Four Articles ?
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A. Abolitionist newspapers.

B. The Bible.

C. Greek history.

D. Slave narratives.

60. The tragic mulatto myth_________________?
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A. Existed only in fiction by female authors.

B. Existed only in fiction by White authors.

C. Developed in the 20th century.

D. Led to novels of passing.