Reference no: EM133412978

Assignment:

Evelyn Fairbanks outlines a broad, deeply personal, and, arguably, romanticized version of life in the thriving Black community of Rondo in St. Paul at the beginning of the 20th century. Growing up in Rondo, she tells of a community that was interconnected, had it's own culture and heritage and she presents a different version of Minnesota than that of living on the farm.

The questions below directly relate to Fairbanks text, but you will need to do some additional research to help answer the question in the third section. Make sure to read the whole book prior to beginning the assignment. Read the directions carefully, answer all questions, provide examples from the text where necessary to support a point made in your answer, and conduct outside research on topics you are unfamiliar with or on about which you need more information.

All outside research should be appropriately cited using the citation manual of your choice. This includes in-text and Work Cited citations.

Questions:

Primary Source Questions

1. What type of primary source is this? What special considerations should we keep in mind when analyzing and interpreting this type of primary source? In other words, how is this type of primary source different or unique from other types of primary sources?
2. Speculate on the creator's biases. How might the creator's background, or the historical context in which he or she created the source, have shaped it?
3. Who is the intended audience of this source? How might its intended audience have shaped what appears in the source?
4. What is one question that you would like to ask the author about this primary source, or what is one thing that you would like to know about it that might help you in analyzing and interpreting the source?

In Depth Questions

1. What are Evelyn and Morris' views on money? How might the difference in Evelyn and Morris' attitudes on money reflect a north and south worldview during this era?
2. Who are the "Visitors?" How might they represent the culture of St. Paul/Minneapolis in this era?
3. What are some of the early changes to the neighborhood (pg. 87-90)? How might they represent changing technologies and culture of Minnesota?
4. In what ways was Fairbanks teenage years similar to other teens of her and other generations? How was it different? How was it different from the white kids?

Broad Questions - Use details and examples from your reading and research to answer:

1. Who is Madam C. J. Walker? Why is she an important person in Fairbanks remembrances?

2. What does the "mirroring" of white culture by blacks - as depicted in Fairbanks text - tell historians about Minnesota and the Black and white communities in this era? (refer to Chapters 10 and 17 in Days of Rondo.)

3. Using Fairbanks' text as a starting point and some additional research, give some examples of gender roles in the African American community during this era?

• Are different gender roles reflected in wider American culture?
• What are, if any, unique to the Black community?

4. How did your impression of the Depression change when reading Fairbanks? (To answer this question, you will have to first define what you know of the Depression, possibly using Risjord, prior knowledge and/or additional research.)