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?

4. Throughout the novel, Jane feels guilty about her adequacy as a mother while pursuing her creative work. How have you navigated balancing personal ambitions with family responsibilities or other caregiving roles?

5. Hampton Ford steals Jane’s intellectual property and faces no consequences. Have you ever experienced having your ideas stolen or undervalued? How did you respond?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Colored Television critiques how the entertainment industry packages racial identity for profit. How do you see this playing out in contemporary media and entertainment? What responsibility do creators and consumers share in addressing it?

2. The novel uses the controversial term “mulatto” throughout. Senna has argued for reclaiming this term despite its problematic history. What are your thoughts on reclaiming or retiring terms like this?

3. Jane’s precarious academic position reflects challenges in higher education, especially for creative professionals. How does the novel portray the academic world? What does this suggest about how our society values different types of knowledge and creativity?

4. How do the different neighborhoods of Los Angeles function in the novel? What do they reveal about class, race, and belonging in contemporary America?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Senna makes Jane Gibson an antihero. What specific traits or actions make Jane both sympathetic and problematic as a protagonist? How did your feelings toward her evolve throughout the novel?

2. The novel incorporates excerpts from a fictional academic study on “mulattos” in America. How do these passages develop your understanding of Jane’s character and struggles?

3. Mirrors appear throughout the novel, often connected to Jane’s fear of disappearing or not existing. How does this deepen the novel’s exploration of biracial identity and Jane’s sense of self?

4. Hampton Ford is described as having two sides to his face—one laughing and one crying, like Greek theatrical masks. How does this reflect the novel’s view of the entertainment industry and authenticity?

5. Senna uses a technique called “lampshading” to highlight narrative devices within the novel itself, such as when Jane reflects on the “inciting incident” in her story. What is the effect of this?

6. Senna employs both satire and realism in Colored Television, particularly when depicting the entertainment industry and academic world. How did this blend of styles impact your reading experience?