Up from Slavery book club questions

The reading plan

Meeting 1: Chapters 1 to 6

1. How can freedom bring both joy and uncertainty, and what does that mixture suggest about responsibility?
2. What might choosing a surname mean to someone pursuing schooling after freedom?
3. How fair is it for cleaning skills to help determine access to education?
4. How might hardship strengthen a teacher's commitment to others, and when might it make service harder?
5. What should education offer beyond the ability to earn a living?

Meeting 2: Chapters 7 to 13

6. What might students gain or lose by turning farm buildings into their own classrooms?
7. What claims, if any, should neighbors have on a school they support with food and money?
8. How should a growing school balance urgent costs against the risks of debt?
9. Where would you draw the line between useful learning through work and asking too much of students?
10. How much weight should visitors' praise carry when students are still enduring shortages?

Meeting 3: Chapters 14 to 17

11. How would you weigh national attention against criticism when judging the value of Washington's speech?
12. What questions would you ask before accepting cooperation as a path to progress?
13. How much can enthusiastic audiences tell Washington about the value of his racial advocacy?
14. How should Washington balance public speaking with school leadership when both demand his attention?
15. How should readers weigh public honors against education as service when judging Washington's achievements?

Themes to talk about

Tips for the host

1. Open each meeting with one question everyone can answer, then go deeper.
2. Anyone who fell behind can catch up with the 15-minute summary.