Bud's story takes place during the 1930s, when orphanages are still common and lots of children and families have lost everything due to the Great Depression. How do you think life would be different for Bud if he was growing up today?
After Bud's momma dies and he is moved from the orphanage into foster homes, he stops crying when things make him sad. He says he doesn't have any more tears. But when he sits in a good restaurant with Herman Calloway's band laughing and talking, he can't stop crying. Why do you think Bud cries that night?
Herman E. Calloway always made sure that one member of his band was white.
Why was it important for him to have a white band member? What could a white man do in the 1930s that a black man wasn't allowed to do? After being beaten up and forced to sleep in a shed in his new foster home, ten-year-old Bud decides to go "on the lam." He runs away from the foster home and from the orphanage where he'd lived before going to the home. During the depression, many children were forced to travel by themselves. Think about Bud's experiences in the library, the bread line, and the Hooverville. Do you think he was luckier than most children on their own? Why or why not?
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |