The Glory Field Discussion Guide

Section Four: January 1964

Reading Check

  1. What sport does Tommy excel in?
  1. What college does Mr. Chase want Tommy to attend?
  1. Why is him attending State so important?
  1. What happened to Skeeter Johnson?
  1. What does Jennie want to be when she grows up?
  1. What is Tommy’s father’s nickname?
  1. Where does Tommy work?
  1. What could stop Tommy from getting into college?
  1. What happened to Skeeter after the march?
  1. What did Tommy do during Sheriff Moser’s press conference?

Discussion Questions

  1. Walter Dean Myers once commented, ”You see kids who are really struggling to make something of the world and to fit into it in a way that doesn’t say that they are garbage.” Which character (s) in this section does Myers’ comment make you think of and why?
  1. Skeeter Jackson might be described as “color blind” in the sense that he seems committed to being Tommy’s friend no matter what, including the fact that he’s white and Tommy is black. Analyze what it is about Skeeter’s character that allows him to be so supportive of Tommy and other Negroes.
  1. Tommy’s actions in this section prevent him from getting a chance to play basketball for “State”, although he is very much intrigued by the possibility of playing for them. Describe a situation from your personal experience where you did what was “right”, knowing full well that it would probably mean that you didn’t get exactly what you wanted. Would you make the same decision again?

Choose and complete one of the following activities:

*Design a poster for the march. It should include a street map showing the route. Use clues from the novel to put your map together. Make sure to include all the necessary information on the poster, such as the date and starting time of the march. Attract readers with a colorful and striking design.

*Write an editorial about the civil rights march from the point of view of any character in this section of the novel (white or black). If the editorial is to be published before the march takes place, write about what you think its goals are and why people should or should not join it. If the editorial is to be published after the march is over, write about what happened and what you thought about it.