Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for People of Means by Nancy Johnson

1. The novel begins with 18-year-old Freda Gilroy's first days as a freshman on the campus of Fisk University in the fall of 1959. How do the expectations of her family back home in Chicago and the traditions of this esteemed institution influence her and ultimately complicate her decision-making regarding activism?
2. The specter of Black excellence hovers over the lives of all the characters. How does it shape the trajectories of Freda, Tulip, Gerald, Darius, and Key?
3. Gerald and Darius come from different backgrounds and worldviews. How do their respective differences force Freda to both question what she believes in and wrestle with the kind of life she wants? Did she choose wisely?
4. How do you think Gerald's encounter with Travis Lee changed his view of racism in America? Does it explain the choices he makes throughout the novel?
5. Cora and Evaline face the hardships of financial ruin and an unwanted pregnancy. How do their personal crises impact Freda and how she perceives the Black condition in America?
6. How did the hidden history about the Pullman Porters and Black entertainers shape your understanding of the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement?
7. In 1992 Chicago, Tulip must decide how to respond after the verdict in the Rodney King case. How does the legacy she inherits from her parents influence her choices?
8. Why you think you Freda never shared the full story of her involvement in the Movement with Tulip? What do you think might have changed in Tulip's life if she had?
9. Why does Key's working-class upbringing make him skeptical about the effectiveness of protests against injustice?
10. How has your own definition of "people of means" evolved after reading this novel?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of William Morrow. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.