Black Brother, Black Brother

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response to serve as examples and support.

1. Donte realizes that fencing is more than a game. It also involves strategy and tactics.

• What does Donte’s realization mean? What strategies and tactics do he and others use? (topic sentence)
• What are three examples of tactics that support your argument?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your thesis back to either the theme of Feeling Confident Both Physically and Mentally Through Sports or The Visibility and Invisibility of Race.

2. Trey is able to pass for white because his skin color is lighter than Donte’s.

• How does Trey’s ability to pass affect his brother and friends? How is his experience different than theirs? (topic sentence)
• What moments from the text mention Trey’s passing for white and its impact on others? Choose at least three to support your argument.
• Finally, in your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your argument back to The Visibility and Invisibility of Race.

3. Donte frequently mentions being able to “see,” both in reference to fencing and to his life outside of fencing.

• What does it mean to “see” in this novel? (topic sentence)
• How does learning how to see help Donte grow as a character? Provide at least three examples to support your argument.
• Finally, in your conclusion, evaluate how Donte is different at the end of the novel from the way he was at the beginning.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Many of the main characters experience life differently than others. Donte’s experience is much different than his white father and light-skinned brother. Zarra and Denise both have a different experience as Black women. What is the role of identity in this novel? What moments highlight the characters’ complex identities?

2. Donte and Trey conclude the novel by switching off wearing shirts that say, “Black Brother” and “White Brother,” highlighting their shared heritage as the sons of a white father and Black mother. What are they trying to illustrate about The Visibility and Invisibility of Race? How has Donte touched on this throughout the novel?

3. In many ways, Donte physically transforms by taking up fencing, especially given that he has never played a sport. What might this novel be suggesting about the role of sports in one’s physical and mental health? How does Donte benefit from fencing and how does it filter back into his life outside of the sport? How does Donte’s growth connect back to the theme of Feeling Confident Both Physically and Mentally Through Sports.