two readings
1) Look at the supplemental reading which I titled “African Town” in the Readings folder. It’s the five page “Introduction” at the top of the folder. What does this chapter (written by the historian Sylviane A. Diouf) teach you about Cudjo that we didn’t quite know or were confused about when reading his narrative? Provide a brief passage from Diouf’s chapter that exemplifies this new information.
2) To take #1 a step further, how does Cudjo’s story compare to other information or stories you have read about the trans-Atlantic slave trade? Name at least one specific new insight that you have gained from Cudjo’s story. And give an example of one specific new piece of knowledge about the slave trade that you have gained from reading Barracoon.
3) As noted above, Zora Neale Hurston chose to present Cudjo’s narrative in the vernacular dialect of the linguistic tradition of African Americans. In fact, she refused a publisher’s request to change the language stylistics for publication. What do you think of the choices Hurston has made? Pick out one example of his speech from the text. Use this to explain what we can learn about Cudjo Lewis from his manner of speech. Overall, what is your experience of reading Barracoon?
