Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How do you feel after reading Original Sins? What emotion is most prominent in your reaction to the text and why?

2. Have you read work by Indigenous authors, such as Sherman Alexie, Tommy Orange, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, or Louise Erdrich? If so, how does Ewing’s work impact your understanding of their books? If not, has Ewing’s book made you want to seek out such authors?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. What parts of the text made you uncomfortable regarding your view of the United States, its foundation, and/or its education systems? How did Ewing’s discussion of seminal figures like Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, and others compare with your views of their contributions to the United States?

2. Do your experiences in school most reflect the experiences of Black children, Indigenous children, or Ewing’s own experiences in an affluent school as discussed in the text? Discuss how the text informed your views and perception of your own education.

3. What part or fact in the text surprised you the most to learn? Discuss why it surprised you and how it changed your view of education, race, and/or history.