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Introduction To A Lesson Before Dying

I would protest the president's decision to sell the game Ghettopoly. While the intent may have been to parody Monopoly, promoting and profiting from racial stereotypes is inappropriate and can promote real harm. Selling such a game could understandably upset many customers and damage our brand. As a national chain, we have a responsibility to consider how products may affect all communities we serve. A game that demeans or dehumanizes groups of people has no place on our shelves. I would suggest we discuss finding alternatives that don't compromise our values or make any group feel disrespected.

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Sean Kelly
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304 views

Introduction To A Lesson Before Dying

I would protest the president's decision to sell the game Ghettopoly. While the intent may have been to parody Monopoly, promoting and profiting from racial stereotypes is inappropriate and can promote real harm. Selling such a game could understandably upset many customers and damage our brand. As a national chain, we have a responsibility to consider how products may affect all communities we serve. A game that demeans or dehumanizes groups of people has no place on our shelves. I would suggest we discuss finding alternatives that don't compromise our values or make any group feel disrespected.

Uploaded by

Sean Kelly
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A Lesson Before Dying

by Ernest J. Gaines
An Introduction
The Author: Ernest J. Gaines
The Author: Ernest J. Gaines
The Author: Ernest J. Gaines
Fast Facts on the
Author

He was born on a Louisiana plantation in 1933 during the Great


Depression.
He was raised by his courageous Aunt Jefferson – perhaps the
reason why the hero of the novel carries the same surname.
Gaines worked in the fields digging potatoes, just like the
schoolchildren in this novel.
Fast Facts on the
Author

At fifteen, his family moved to Vallejo,


California where he discovered the public library,
inspiring his love for literature and later passion
for writing.
Many of his stories are based on memories from
his own childhood.
Literary and Historical Background

While the novel takes place in the 1940’s, the


novel was not written until 1993.
 The story is fictional. However, it reflects the
time period in a historically accurate way.
Racism is entrenched.
Jim Crow laws are in effect (continued until
1965)
“Separate but equal.” upheld by the Supreme
court in Plessy vs. Ferguson in 1896
There is tension between educated and
uneducated blacks, between light and dark-
skinned blacks…
Major Themes and Motifs
• Racism
• Obligation
• Redemption
• What it means to be a hero
• Captivity and Freedom
Ghettopoly
Discuss the following:
You are the manager of the national chain store. The president of
the company decides that all stores must sell the new board game
“Ghettopoly.” Would you would protest the president’s decision, or
proceed to sell the game?

Be sure to consider:
• Does it make any difference whether the game was made today
versus back during the Jim Crow Years?
• Does it matter whether or not the creator of the game was black?
• Does it matter who the company is targeting when advertising the
product? (i.e. who they expect to buy the game)

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