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Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray Discussion
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0
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13
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November 11, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of Harlem Rhapsody? (no spoilers, please!)
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30
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113
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March 7, 2026
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Were you surprised to learn about Charlotte Osgood Mason? What do you think of the role that white women like Charlotte played in the success of authors like Langston Hughes? Do you think they accomplished more good than harm or more harm than good?
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5
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22
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February 24, 2026
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How did W. E. B. Du Bois help and hinder Jessie's career?
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10
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34
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February 24, 2026
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During the Harlem Renaissance, Black music, literature, theater, fashion, and art all flourished. How did the novel incorporate each of these creative disciplines to evoke this time period and cultural movement?
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3
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15
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February 15, 2026
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W.E.B. Du Bois was one of the most important civil rights activists in US history. Were you aware that he founded The Crisis? Did you know about his affair with Jessie? Does knowing about his relationship with Jessie change your opinion of him?
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22
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90
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February 15, 2026
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Jessie Redmon Fauset was instrumental in the success of so many legendary authors and yet she herself is not famous for this extraordinary accomplishment or her groundbreaking novel, There Is Confusion. Why do you think she was forgotten in history?
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10
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48
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February 12, 2026
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There are a number of conversations in the novel about whether books or plays portraying Black characters in a positive light are of value if they are not written by Black authors. What do you think?
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18
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61
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February 12, 2026
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Why do you think Jessie was so attracted to W. E. B. Du Bois? Why do you think she continued the relationship, even though she knew there was no future in it? Do you think she made the correct decision at the end of the book?
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8
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33
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February 10, 2026
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Why do you think Jessie was so successful as the literary editor of The Crisis? What personality traits and skill set made her able to discover and nurture talented authors?
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4
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13
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February 10, 2026
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What surprised you about Harlem Rhapsody? What did you learn that was new to you?
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17
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66
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February 10, 2026
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W.E.B. DuBois and family
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9
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47
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February 8, 2026
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Fauset asks her sister, “Has there ever been a force in your life that brought you an equal measure of joy and sorrow?” How do you think her relationship with Du Bois exemplifies this? How would you answer her question?
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7
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42
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February 7, 2026
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Jessie faced a lot of racism and sexism in her life. How did she combat both throughout the novel? Do you think her attitude to racism and sexism changed over the course of the book?
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5
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28
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February 7, 2026
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What role did Jessie play in the Harlem Renaissance?
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3
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15
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February 7, 2026
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Several times W.E.B. Du Bois expresses the opinion that if art’s not propaganda, “it has no purpose.” What did you think of this? Is all art propaganda of some sort?
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15
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41
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February 7, 2026
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To what audience would you recommend Harlem Rhapsody? Is there another book or author you feel addresses related themes or who writes in a similar style?
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8
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38
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February 7, 2026
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The author mentions the lifelong disagreement between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington regarding the best path to Black equality. Were you aware of the conflict, and do you have an opinion about it? Do you think it's shifted over the decades?
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5
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23
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February 7, 2026
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Isabella tells Fauset that “The only regret I’ve had is not guiding you to a respectable life,” to which Fauset replies, “My life is respectable.” What do you think? What makes a life “respectable”?
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5
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27
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February 4, 2026
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Jessie and her stepmother, Isabella Huff Fauset, have a very close relationship. Why do you think that is? How do you think Isabella influenced Jessie's life? How is Isabella an extraordinary woman for her time?
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2
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17
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February 3, 2026
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Was there a scene or a quote in Harlem Rhapsody that you highlighted? Why do you suppose it resonated with you?
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3
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19
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February 1, 2026
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What factors in the United States contributed to the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s?
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0
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8
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January 28, 2026
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