Home To Harlem

Sex and love, and the relationships between men and women consume many characters in the novel. How does McKay portray these relationships, and what impact do these relationships have on the lives of the characters?

Discuss how McKay uses music, especially jazz and the blues, as a part of the cultural setting of the novel.

Jake is driven throughout the novel to find Felice because he believes that he can be happy with her. Discuss whether this is a realistic expectation, including evidence from the novel to support your argument.

Jake and Ray are two characters with very different life experiences and perspectives on life. Compare and contrast these characters and discuss what each man gains from his relationship with the other.

Claude McKay was heavily criticized for his portrayal of African Americans and African American culture because (at least from the perspective of his critics) his work confirmed stereotypical notions of African Americans. Is this a legitimate criticism? Why might McKay have chosen to represent African Americans in this way despite the criticism? Use support from the novel or credible resources in your response.

What messages about black masculinity and black femininity are apparent in the novel? Support your response with discussion of both the characters and the plot.

Colorism—African Americans’ internalization of beauty standards that deem darker skin and physical features as less attractive than skin and features that more closely approximate those of whites—is present throughout the novel. Discuss how characters in the novel are shaped by their own colorism and that of their peers.

Discuss the relationship between place and identity in the novel.