The Jacket

By the end of the book, Phil’s dad has not acknowledged or tried to overcome his biases. Why do you think the author chose to leave this character biased? What messages does Phil’s dad send about discussing bias with adults? How do you think it would go if Phil confronted his dad about his bias?

In Chapter 5, Daniel’s grandmother intentionally code-switches when she addresses Phil’s dad. What did this moment teach you about changing ourselves to make others more comfortable? Are there situations where code-switching could be harmful? Are there situations where code-switching could be helpful?

The Jacket addresses how kindness is not always a force for good. Do you see how the gift of the jacket could be problematic? What factors make the gift a problem, and which factors make it just a simple act between two people? How does this situation contribute to the idea that actions can have more than one meaning and motivation? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Use three aspects of Phil’s life to illustrate how race plays a role in those events. How would each situation be changed or unchanged by if the characters’ races were unknown?

Based on what you learn about Phil’s mom throughout the book, why do you think she gave Daniel’s grandmother the jacket? Did race and bias factor into her decision? If so, how? If not, what evidence suggests race had nothing to do with it? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Explore the responsibility all people, regardless of race, hold toward eliminating biases and division from society. Do you think all interactions and situations must occur with this goal in mind? Why or why not? What might be effective strategies to lessen racial division between groups?

Does Phil come across as a believable, genuine character? Why or why not? What about Phil makes him easy to understand and sympathize with? What made it difficult for you to identify with him? How could the author have written Phil differently to make him more understandable and relatable?

In Chapter 6, are Daniel’s anger and the hard time he gives Phil returning the jacket justified? Why or why not? Is Daniel wrong to forgive Phil? If not, at what point is forgiveness no longer justified? What is a different way Daniel could have responded?