The Other Black Girl

Nella, Kendra Rae, and Diana each remember and reflect upon the importance of Black female friendships. Choose one of these characters and explain what Black female friendships mean to her and how they inform her choices. Cite examples.

Choose any two female characters from the novel to compare. How are they markedly alike or surprisingly different?

Compare the first-person narration Harris uses in the Prologue, named chapters (referred to in this guide as “interludes’’), and Epilogue to the third-person limited narration in the numbered chapters. How do these different perspectives work together to build suspense?

Although most of the novel takes place in 2018, the overarching timeline is punctuated by several flashbacks and one flash forward. What is the effect of switching between the past and the future? What argument might the author be making about Black experiences across time?

Who do you think is the hero of this novel? Who (or what) is the villain?

The novel’s title is The Other Black Girl. To which of the characters do you think this title refers?

The novel highlights the ways in which systemic racism manifests in the workplace, but it also exposes the ways in which systemic racism can lead to internalized racism. Using examples, explain how the characters in the novel demonstrate internalized racism. Consider what argument Harris might be making about the causes, effects, and ways of addressing internalized racism.

Diana and Nella reflect on their interracial relationships in slightly different ways. Consider the ways in which race, gender, and power intersect in these relationships.