Major Theme:

The Gold Cadillac continues the theme of racial prejudice.  The story portrays the subtle and not so subtle lengths whites will go to to "keep blacks in their place."  A black man's purchase of a brand-new gold Cadillac symbolizes pride and freedom to the black man, fear to his family, and racial hatred to whites.  What was intended to represent one man's hopes and dreams of the future turns out to be a dangerous nightmare reminiscent of the past he had tried to escape.  One learns through this story that racial prejudice is cunning and can be communicated on many levels.

Summary:

When 'lois and Wilma's daddy brings home a brand-new, shiny gold Cadillac, they are proud that the family will be driving in it all the way from Ohio to Mississippi.  But as they travel deeper into the rural South, there are no admiring glances for the wonderful car, only suspicion and anger for the black man behind the wheel.  For the first time in their lives, 'lois and her sister find out what it's like to be scared because of the color of their skin.
 

Question #1

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Question #3

What was the reaction to the brand-new, shiny gold Cadillac?

Why did Mother Dear at first refuse to ride in the gold Cadillac and what made her change her mind?
 

3.  Why do you think Wilbert went against the advice of his neighbors and friends who told him he was asking for trouble if he drove his new car down to Mississippi?
 

Question #4

Tell some of the changes that you observed after the family drove across the Ohio River and drove into Kentucky and the South.

Question #5

Wilbert was so proud of his gold Cadillac.  Why do you think he sold it?

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Question #9

Who would you nominate as the hero of this story and why?

Question #10

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Question #18

Extension #1

Extension #2

Extension #3

Write a diary entry describing the shooting from John Wallace's point of view, Tom Bee's point of view and Charlie Simms' point of view

Draw a Venn diagram and compare and contrast The Friendship and The Gold Cadillac.

Write the arrest report from the police officer's point of view. 

 

Extension #4

Write a letter that Mother Dear would write her mother, Big Mama,  about her husband's arrest.

Extension #5

Look up on the internet Dr.  Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and the  "Letter from the Birmingham Jail."