Colored Television

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does the title Colored Television capture the novel’s central themes?

2. How does Colored Television compare to Danzy Senna’s debut novel Caucasia, which also explores biracial identity and family dynamics? If you haven’t read Caucasia, how does this novel compare to other works that examine racial identity in contemporary fiction, like Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Jane struggles with balancing artistic integrity and financial security. Have you faced similar dilemmas in your own life? What influenced your decisions?

2. The novel explores code-switching—or what Jane calls “mulatto mirroring”—her tendency to match the speech and expectations of the person with whom she’s speaking. Have you noticed yourself code-switching in different social contexts? How does this relate to your sense of identity?

3. Jane idealizes living in “Multicultural Mayberry,” a neighborhood that represents her dream of middle-class suburban life. What places or spaces have represented “arrival” or “success” to you, and how has this shaped your life choices?