Twelve Tribes of Hattie - First Questions!

[NOW's]

Hey guys! These questions follow the first three sections/chapters in the book: Philadelphia and Jubilee, Lafayette, and Six. Don't forget that we are transferring over to Facebook, so be sure to like the page!

1) "All of these souls escaped from the South, were at this very moment glowing with promise in the wretched winters of the cities of the North. Hattie knew her babies would survive. Though they were small and struggling, Philadelphia and Jubilee were already among those luminous souls, already at the beginning of a new nation." -page 11

We know that black Americans had ways to go to achieve more equality in society at this point in time. So, what is your interpretation of Hattie's reference to "luminous souls"?


2) "Floyd hung his head like a whipped dog. He told himself he had done the right thing; it would not have been prudent to admit he knew Lafayette. What could have been gained but a fight...?" -page 43

In our current society, we see others, or we ourselves have to chose between speaking out and staying silent. Sometimes making this choice must be made in order to prevent violence, but how can things change if you are forced to chose silence? What do you think might have happened to Floyd had he disclosed his relationship with Lafayette?


3) "Maybe, Six thought, there wasn't anything purely good or holy. Maybe good was only accomplished indirectly and though unlikely channels: fake hearings or a room full of jealous angry men with Bibles who nonetheless drew these sad people and lifted their spirits for a few days. It could be that Six was one of these--a bad thing used for good purposes. Maybe he could be a sword after all." -page 87

At this point of our reading, as evidenced in the title and in the plot line, religion and spirituality is a key theme of this novel. How has religion and spirituality shaped our ideas of good and evil? Think about the history of racial issues in your responses.