Men We Reaped

At the end of her memoir, Ward recalls a drive she took with her brother Joshua and the song he played for her. Analyze the lyrics of Ghostface Killah’s “All I Got Is You,” then discuss how the song’s themes inform the themes of Ward’s memoir.

Consider the two narrative structures Ward employs to organize her memoir. Why does Ward choose each narrative structure? How do the two narrative structures intersect, and what is the result of this intersection?

Discuss the gender roles present in Ward’s family and community. What are the challenges and liberties experienced by each gender? How does Ward interact with these gender roles?

How does Ward define family throughout her memoir? What binds people together, and what tears them apart? What is the significance of family to Ward?

Break down the symbolism of the cellar. What does it represent? How does Ward forge this connection? Why does Ward have such a visceral reaction to it?

Discuss how Ward’s memoir may be the story of finding one’s voice. Who are the voices? What stories do they tell? What connects these stories?

Select one of Ward’s novels and analyze how her personal life is reflected in her fiction. To what extent does Ward protect her characters? How, if at all, does the message of Ward’s memoir differ from her fiction?

Research a statistic that supports or contradicts one of the statistics Ward provides. Analyze the impact of your statistic on Ward’s discussion of race and life in America.