53 pages 1 hour read

Ilyasah Shabazz, Renée Watson

Betty Before X

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018

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Essay Topics

1.

Content Warning: This section discusses anti-Black racism. It depicts scenes of racial discrimination and racist violence.

Why does Betty react so strongly to the ads for the skin lightening bleach? How do the reactions of the other girls differ, and what do these reactions represent?

2.

Why is the shopping trip Betty’s galvanizing moment that leads her to the Housewives’ League?

3.

Discuss the significance of Kay’s description of her family farm and garden to the Civil Rights Movement. Why does she compare their activism to planting? How does this help her continue to fight for equality, even when there are no visible results?