. PART A: Which of the following best identifies a theme of the poem? * People of color often hide their identity due to the negative expectations of society.
Children are often shamed for characteristics that make them unique or stand out.
Society often judges a person's worth and promise by the color of their skin.
People often don't contribute their ideas because they're too afraid to speak up.
2. PART B: Which quote from the poem best supports the answer to Part A? *
"anything to mask / the million insecurities that / pockmark our skin like acne." (Lines 4-6)
"agile minds, the wit that sits behind our cheeks — / who'd guess that some of us are geeks” (Lines 12-13)
"One look, and we are neatly judged this / gang, these thugs, these dark delinquents" (Lines 17-18)
"we'd shrink our own hearts / down to nothing, and that we / would regret. Better to let our anger go, and smile." (Lines 28-30)
3. What does the phrase "our color works to camouflage our / character and promise — at least, in certain eyes" mean as it is used in the poem (Lines 15-16)? *
The speaker and their peers wear dark colors in hopes of blending him.
People judge the speaker, and people like them, because of the color of their skin.
The kids hide their capabilities out of fear of what others will think of them.
People don't expect as much from the kids because of their young age.
4. PART A: How does the word choice in the last two stanzas of the poem contribute to the tone (Lines 24-35)? *
It portrays the speaker's approach to the future as pessimistic.
It emphasizes the speaker's hope that things will improve.
It conveys the speaker's frustration at the injustice they experience.
It stresses the speaker's resigned tone towards the injustices described.
5. PART B: Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A? *
"Is such unfairness what the world is filled with? / The evidence is seen in spirits ripped and torn." (Lines 24-25)
"Still, the world needs the dreams we offer, and / should we leave those dreams bleeding” (Lines 26-27)
"we'd shrink our own hearts / down to nothing, and that we / would regret." (Lines 28-30)
"in the end, mask aside, freshen your mouth / with ferocious lines of potent poetry" (Lines 32-33)
The following questions answer with complete sentences. Must have why for each one.
6. What does the "masquerade" represent in the poem (Line 9)? *
7. Can you change your identity? *