A Story of Young Harriet Tubman

by Alan Schroeder

Questions for Philosophical Discussion
by Reisa Alexander
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The meaning of love:

Minty loved her rag doll, Esther, very much, and hid her in the barn so that she could talk to her whenever she wanted.

1. Where in the barn did Minty hid her doll?
2. Could Esther, Minty's doll, hear and understand Minty?
3. Why did Minty love her doll so much?
4. What is love?
5. Are there different kinds of love?
6. Do you love your friends in the same way that you love your family?
7. Can you really love a doll?
8. Does this agree with your original definition of love?
9. Let's summarize the things we have agreed on about love.

 

The nature of right and wrong:

Mr. Sanders told Minty to put any trapped muskrats from the stream into the heavy sack he gave her.

1. What did Minty do when she found muskrats in the traps?
2. Why did Minty let the muskrats go?
3. Was Minty right to let the muskrats go even though she was not supposed to?
4. What makes something right?
5. What makes something wrong?
6. Does everyone have to follow the same rules for right and wrong?
7. When is it right to do what you are not supposed to do?
8. Let's summarize the things we have agreed on about right and wrong.
                                        

What is freedom?

Minty's father, Old Ben, took her into the forest and taught her many things, like how to catch fish with nothing but a piece of string and a nail, and to swim in the still, muddy waters of the creek.

1. Why did Minty's father teach her these things?
2. Why did Minty want to run away?
3. Do you think Minty's parents wanted to run away also?
4. Why didn't Minty's parents just leave?
5. Was it right for Minty to want to run away?
6. What is a slave?
7. What is the difference between a slave and a worker...like a housekeeper or cook?
8. Should everyone be free?
9. What is freedom, then?
10. We are expected to obey laws in this country. Does this mean we are not free?
11. What is meant by freedom of speech?
12. Does this agree with your definition of freedom from before?
13. Let's summarize the things we have agreed on about freedom.

 

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