Friday Black

“The Era” and “Through the Flash” take place in worlds that might be described as dystopic. Compare the settings of each story to arrive at a definition of dystopia.

How does the heightened language used in “The Era” inform your understanding of the ideology that Ben’s society espouses?

Compare and contrast the narrators of “Friday Black” and “How to Sell a Jacket as Told by IceKing.” What are their attitudes toward success? How do they find validation in their work?

Is “Lark Street” a commentary on a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion access? Why or why not? Discuss whether the narrator’s actions run contrary to the beliefs underlying this right.

Why does “Light Spitter” show Fuckton’s perspective when the story begins? Are his intentions clear from the opening sentences? If not, discuss the moment when his intentions do become clear. How does this complicate or illuminate the issues of mass violence and school shootings? Does the story offer solutions?

Is it always important for salespeople to be truthful? Use “How to Sell a Jacket as Told by IceKing” and “In Retail” to show how their narrators either use lies or omit the truth to close a sale.

How does “Zimmer Land” compare and contrast with other depictions of violent theme parks or games like Westworld, Running Man, or The Hunger Games? Do these narratives share themes? How does “Zimmer Land” stand out?

How does Friday Black fit into the Black science fiction canon? Choose another Black sci-fi author like Samuel Delaney, Octavia Butler, or N. K. Jemisin and compare their work to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s. What themes, symbols, or elements do they share, and how do they differ?