This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism

In Ghana, Lemon questioned what his life would be like had his family not been forced into slavery. What benefits did he consider? How did his mother’s perspective differ from his?

Analyze two examples of altercations between the police and Black civilians. How do they expose ongoing issues with law enforcement in America? What are the obstacles to long-term solutions?

Lemon states that Black families have a special relationship with grief and death. Analyze how police shootings affect victims’ families. What perspective do Lemon’s personal losses bring?

Why does Lemon discuss his experience buying cutting boards? Explain his emotions about the situation and about being a Black man in general. How does he compare the way others explain the situation to more overt racism in the past?

Lemon outlines issues associated with systemic racism in the US but often promotes slower, more collaborative solutions over aggressive measures like defunding the police. Explain his reasoning and whether you agree with his conclusions.

How does Lemon perceive the role of family in his life as a Black man and as a gay man? How do his experiences and interracial heritage influence his hopes for change?

How do Confederate monuments and movies with racist stereotypes enforce White supremacy? Explain how Confederate iconography obscures the realities of the antebellum South. Why does Lemon favor providing historical context to older books and movies over outright banning them?

How does Lemon’s position as a journalist influence his perspective on world events? Why does he insist on an objective position? Explain how he uses experts and pop culture to explain difficult issues.