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People |
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Belle’s family |
Others |
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Belle de
Costa Greene/Belle Marion Greener Genevieve –
mother Richard
Greener – father, first colored Harvard graduate, former president of the University
of South Carolina and former dean of Harvard School of Law Russell –
engineer Louise –
teacher Ethel –
teacher Theodora
“Teddy” – 7 years younger than Belle Grandma Fleet Minerva –
Genevieve’s sister Belleni –
husband Mozart – Genevieve’s
brother Adalaide -
wife |
J. Pierpont
Morgan Laura J. P. Jr.
“Jack” Juliet Anna Bernard
Berenson – affair, wrote art book Belle read at age 10 Mary – wife William
Caxton, printer – “Le Morte Darthur” “made printed
word available to the masses” [page 141) |
For Discussion:
NOTE: Page numbers are from the hardbacked edition.
1.
How much different was Belle’s and Teddy’s
experience passing as white? Given their
age difference, that was all Teddy knew.
2.
Discuss the interaction between Belle and the
colored server at the Vanderbilt ball in May 1906. Belle’s mother advised her not to make eye
contact with colored people, but Belle looked at the server too long and she
thought, “in the ephemeral connection we’ve made, I can see that she knows”
(page 57). Then “the servingwoman grins.
A broad, delighted proud grin” (page 58).
Were you surprised at the woman’s reaction?
3.
Regarding Genevieve’s advice to be cautious and
avoid eye contact with colored people, Belle decided to “be bold, daring to
hide my differences in plain sight” (page 59).
Would her mother’s advice have been successful in Belle’s situation?
4.
Throughout their relationship, Belle often read
out loud to J. P. Morgan. Why do you
think he enjoyed this? As an adult, do
you think you would enjoy being read to?
Is this the same as audio books?
5.
What did you think about Morgan and Belle’s
relationship, both working and personal?
One of his mistresses told Belle in 1911 that Belle was “the most
important person in his life” (page 231).
6.
Why do you think Anne Morgan had such negative
feelings toward Belle?
7.
In March 1908, Belle’s family returned to
Washington D. C. for Grandma Fleet’s funeral.
In doing so, they had to abide by the rules for colored people. How difficult was this for the family? Was it possible for Genevieve’s family to
understand the choices she made for her children and herself?
8.
Did you understand why Genevieve made this
decision? She stated, “I did what I had
to do to give my children the best opportunities, the best life” (page
101). Do you think it was right for her
to do so?
9.
Were you surprised that when Belle and her
father met in 1913, that he told her, “One day, Belle, we will be able to reach
back through the decades and claim you as one of our own? Your accomplishments will be part of history;
they’ll show doubtful white people what colored people can do” (page 275). Were you surprised that he approved of her
decision to pass as white?
10.
As the story progressed, what did you think
about Berenson? They both were hiding
their heritage. In the end he betrayed
Belle by sharing information with the Duveens, art dealers.
11.
Because Belle destroyed most of her personal
papers, it is undocumented that she actually had an abortion in 1910. In the Historical Note on the authors state
that there is some evidence of this happening, “but the details are not
documented” (page 326). Should this have
been included in the novel? How did this
event add to your understanding of Belle?
12.
Reflecting on Richard Greener’s statement in
question 9, do you think this was one of the unexpressed reasons the authors
wrote this book?
13.
In the Author’s Notes, Marie Benedict wrote,
“I’d always believed myself to be a proponent of equality for all, but my
conversations with Victoria (co-author) made clear how little I knew about the
struggle and about myself” (page 334).
By reading this book did you gain any insights into the struggle of
African Americans in our society?
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