• Compare and contrast the character traits that allow Jamal Wallace and Cedric Jennings to overcome the prejudices they encounter in their everyday lives.
• How has racial prejudice evolved over the years and how does it influence our society as a whole?
• Describe a time when you were faced with prejudice and how you overcame it.

The following musical selections pertain to the reoccuring themes that are portrayed in the movie Finding Forrester and the novel A Hope In the Unseen by Ron Suskind:

• "Black Jesus" by Everlast This song ultimately deals with the prejudices that surround our society. It contradicts traditional religious views that Jesus was caucasion rather than African-American or even of another ethnic background.
• "I Can" by Nas "I Can" describes that even though one may be supressed in society it is possible through hard work and determination to overcome this obstacle to achieve one's goals.
• "Hope" by Faith Evans featuring Twista Cedric Jennings (A Hope In the Unseen) relied on his faith to overcome the prejudices he faced everyday at Ballou Senior High and at Brown University. Furthermore, Jamal Wallace (Finding Forrester) saw hope even while being surrounded by poverty and societal norms in the Bronx.
• "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West In all aspects of life religion is able to provide optomism to escape prejudices against racism.

http://www.itunes.com

The following links provide information on events that occurred in the past and directly relate to race relations and prejudices in our society:

• http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/
• http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/1997/mlk/links.html
• http://library.ohio-state.edu/search/XRosa+Parks
• http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/par0bio-1

*If you would like another film source that deals with the stereotypes and prejudices of everyday life view the movie Crash (2005), directed by Paul Haggis.