STORY PREPARATION
Introduction
Toni Cade Bambara (1939-1995) spent her first ten years living in Harlem; later, she credited the
stories and music of that place and time as inspiration for her writing. Early in her career, she
worked as an investigator for the New York State Department of Social Welfare, but soon
devoted herself to teaching, writing and activism.
Bambara was part of a wave of African-American women writers—including Alice Walker,
Nikki Giovanni, Paule Marshall and Audre Lorde—to emerge in the 1960s. For Bambara and her
compatriots, writing was inseparable from social responsibility. Many of her stories concern
women whose struggles prompt a change in their awareness.
Bambara encouraged new and emerging writers—through the formation of writing groups and
alliances, and through legendary potlucks at her Atlanta home. She was also a documentary
filmmaker and screenwriter whose film, “The Bombing of Osage Avenue” depicted the 1985
bombing by the Philadelphia fire department of a radical group called MOVE; the resulting fire
destroyed numerous homes and displaced dozens of people. Bambara died of colon cancer in
Philadelphia in 1995.
“Raymond’s Run,” from her collection Gorilla, My Love, is an exuberant story, salted with the
streetwise idiom of urban kids and enlivened by its feisty narrator, “a little girl with skinny arms
and a squeaky voice” who can outrun anyone in the neighborhood.
Squeaky’s sole responsibility is to take care of her brother, Raymond, who is “not quite right.”
She is his guardian and defender, eagerly facing down any kids who dare to tease him. She’s
equally quick to defend her own status as yearly winner of the 50-yard dash.
This year’s race proves to be transformative for Squeaky, changing her relationship to her archrival, her view of her brother and her ambitions for herself. Readers will likely chuckle at the
dialogue and identify with the young narrator’s efforts to find both personal triumph and genuine
human connection.
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First impressions
After reading “Raymond’s Run,” jot down your own questions, thoughts, confusions and
impressions. What intrigues you about this story? What catches your attention? Make some notes
on the story or in the space below.
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Applying the method
Poetics
Moments in the story where the use of metaphor, simile, repetition, rhythm or voice may prompt
discussion.
1. “All I have to do in life is mind my brother Raymond, which is enough.” (page 23, line 5)
2. “But a lot of people call him my little brother cause he needs looking after cause he’s not
quite right.” (page 23, line 8)
3. “And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing
a lot of talking.” (page 23, line 14)
4. nicknames: “Squeaky” (page 23, line 18), “Mercury” (page 24, line 3) and “Miss
Quicksilver” (page 27, line 19)
5. “He can beat me to Amsterdam Avenue with me having a two fire-hydrant headstart and him
running with his hands in his pockets and whistling.” (page 24, line 5)
6. “…cause he’s subject to fits of fantasy.” (page 24, line 19)
7. “I’ll high-prance down 34th Street like a rodeo pony” (page 25, line 2)
8. “…Chopin’s waltzes just spring out of her fingertips and she’s the most surprised thing in the
world.” (page 25, line 22)
9. “…it’s going to be one of those Dodge City scenes” (page 26, line 10)
10. “…I don’t feature a whole lot of chit-chat, I much prefer to just knock you down right from
the jump and save everybody a lotta precious time.” (page 26, line 17)
11. “…her hands on her hips all salty.” (page 26, line 27)
12. “Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile…” (page 26, line 32)
13. “…trying to act like a fairy or a flower…when you should be trying to be yourself” (page
27, line 30)
14. “I am not a strawberry. I do not dance on my toes. I run.” (page 28, line 7)
15. “He looks around the park for Gretchen like a periscope in a submarine movie.” (page 29,
line 11)
16. “…even grass in the city feels hard as sidewalk.” (page 29, line 22)
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17. “I dream I’m flying over a sandy beach in the early morning sun, kissing the leaves of the
trees as I fly by.” (page 30, line 17)
18. “…the dream goes and I am solid again…and the whole world is quiet except for the crunch
as I zoom over the gravel in the track.” (page 30, line 26)
19. “…my feet with a mind of their own.” (page 31, line 8)
20. “I sort of like her a little for the first time.” (page 31, line 19)
21. “…like a dancer or something he stars climbing” (page 31, line 29)
22. “…my brother Raymond, a great runner in the family tradition.” (page 32, line 18)
23. “We stand there with this big smile of respect between us.” (page 32, line 29)
24. “…cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something
honest and worthy of respect…you know…like being people.” (page 32, line 32)
Record your own notes: thoughts, other instances of poetics, etc. Additional space on page at end
of this section.
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Tensions / Contrasts
Meaningful tensions or juxtapositions in the story.
1. Squeaky’s role/behavior vs. that of other girls: “I don’t have much work to do around the
house like some girls (page 23, line 1) and “…even if my mother thinks it’s a shame I don’t
take part and act like a girl for a change.” (page 27, line 23)
2. Raymond’s chronological age vs. his mental/emotional age and ability: “…as any fool can
see he’s much bigger and he’s older too…he needs looking after cause he’s not quite right.”
(page 23, line 8)
3. Squeaky’s nickname/her reputation: “a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice”
(page 23, line 17) and “…I have a big reputation as the baddest thing around.” (page 32, line
10)
4. talk vs. action: “…I don’t play the dozens…I much rather just knock you down and take my
chances…” (page 23, line 14)
5. Raymond’s “fits of fantasy” (page 24, line 19) and Squeaky’s pre-race “dream, the kind of
dream you have when you’re sick with fever and feel all hot and weightless.” (page 30, line
16)
6. Squeaky’s seriousness and dedication vs. Cynthia Proctor’s casual attitude: “Now some
people like to act like things come easy to them, won’t let on that they practice. Not me.”
(page 25, line 1)
7. phoniness/authenticity: “Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile” (page 26, line 32) and “We
stand there with this big smile of respect between us” (page 32, line 30)
8. acting vs. “being yourself”: “…trying to act like a fairy or a flower or whatever you’re
supposed to be when you should be trying to be yourself…” (page 27, line 30) and “I am not
a strawberry. I do not dance on my toes. I run.” (page 28, line 7)
9. nicknames vs. real names: “Squeaky” (page 23, line 18), “Mercury” (page 24, line 3), “Miss
Quicksilver” (page 27, line 19) and “Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker” (page 29, line 3)
10. fantasy/reality: “…trying to pretend I’m in the country, but I can’t, because even grass in the
city feels hard as sidewalk.” (page 29, line 21)
11. weightlessness/solidity: “…I get lighter and lighter until I’m flying over the beach
again…like a feather that weighs nothing at all” (page 30, line 23) and “…the dream goes
and I am solid again” (page 30, line 26)
12. Squeaky’s run vs. Raymond’s run: “…the white ribbon is bouncing toward me and I tear
past it, racing into the distance” (page 31, line 7) and “on the other side of the fence is
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Raymond with his arms down to his side and the palms tucked up behind him, running in his
very own style” (page 31, line 3)
13. two visions of Raymond: “rattling the fence like a gorilla in a cage” (page 31, line 8) and
“then like a dancer…he starts climbing up nice and easy but very fast” (page 31, line 29)
14. Squeaky’s achievement vs. Raymond’s: “…I’ve got a roomful of ribbons and medals and
awards. But what has Raymond got to call his own?” (page 32, line 11)
15. Squeaky’s changed view of Raymond: “he needs looking after cause he’s not quite right”
(page 23, line 9) and “my brother Raymond, a great runner in the family tradition” (page 32,
line 18)
16. Squeaky’s changed view of Gretchen: “Gretchen…who has put out the tale that she is going
to win the first-place medal this year. Ridiculous.” (page 24, line 11) and “…I look over at
Gretchen wondering what the ‘P’ stands for. And I smile. Cause she’s good, no doubt about
it.” (page 32, line 24)
17. Squeaky’s changed view of herself: “In the first place, no one can beat me and that’s all
there is to it.” (page 24, line 14) and “…even if I’ve won, I can always retire as a runner and
begin a whole new career as a coach” (page 24, line 14)
18. rivalry/respect: “I’m ready to fight…I have whupped her behind many times for less salt
than that.” (page 26, line 17) and “Maybe she’d like to help me coach Raymond; she
obviously is serious about running, as any fool can see.” (page 32, line 26)
Record your own notes: thoughts, other instances of tensions/contrasts, etc. Additional space on
page at end of this section.
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Shadows
Questions, missing pieces, elements that are oblique or not fully explained.
1. Why doesn’t Squeaky have responsibilities around the house like other girls?
2. What is the matter with Raymond? Why does Squeaky describe him as “not quite right”
instead of saying exactly what’s wrong with him?
3. Why is it “private information” (page 24, line 8) that Squeaky’s dad can beat her to
Amsterdam Avenue without trying very hard?
4. Why is Squeaky so unapologetic about her need to practice breathing, prancing and running?
5. Why does Squeaky say she prefers action—“I much prefer to just knock you down right from
the jump” (page 26, line 18)—to talk?
6. What does she mean by “Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile” (page 26, line 32)?
7. Why don’t girls know how to really smile at one another?
8. What does it mean to “be yourself” (page 27, line 31)?
9. What does Squeaky mean by “You’d think they’d put in a few bongos or something for real
like that” (page 28, line 25)?
10. Why does she want Mr. Pearson to use her real name?
11. Why does she “sort of like [Gretchen] a little for the first time” after the race? (page 31, line
20)
12. Why is the story called “Raymond’s Run”?
Record your own notes: thoughts, other instances of shadows, etc. Additional space on page at
end of this section.
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Issues
Themes, ideas and arguments raised by the text.
1. family roles/responsibilities: What is Squeaky’s role in the family? What is Raymond’s?
How does she feel about having to take care of him?
2. people’s responses to difference: How do other people react to Raymond? What is Squeaky’s
response to them? Why do people tease those who are different?
3.
confidence/cockiness: Squeaky says, “I’m the fastest thing on two feet” (page 23, line 19). Is
she confident or cocky about her abilities? Does her certainty about running help or hurt her
performance? Does it help or hurt her relationships with others?
4. rivalry between girls: What is the source of the rivalry and tension between Squeaky and the
other girls? Is it true that girls “never really smile at each other” (page 26, line 33)? Why?
5. attitudes toward practice/trying: Why do some people “like to act like things come easy to
them” (page 25, line 1) while others make no secret of their dedication and practice?
6. cowardice/courage: “But that’s chicken and I’ve got a reputation to consider” (page 26, line
14) Is it more courageous to stand up to rivals or walk away? What does it mean to “have a
reputation” to consider? Who shows courage in this story? Where?
7. typical/atypical roles for girls: How is Squeaky different from other girls? How does she feel
about that difference? How does her mother feel about it? What does it mean to “act like a
girl” (page 27, line 24)?
8. phoniness and authenticity: What examples of phoniness, falseness or “faking it” are in the
story? What are examples of being authentic or genuine? What does it mean to be “for real”?
9. nicknames: What do Squeaky’s nicknames signify? How does she feel about her nicknames?
Why does she want Mr. Pearson to use her real name? What are the positive/negative aspects
of nicknames?
10. fairness: Is it fair that Raphael Perez “wins before he even begins by psyching the runners”
(page 29, line 33)? Is it fair for Cynthia Proctor to pretend she hasn’t studied for the spelling
bee (page 25, line 13)? What does it mean to “play fair” or “be fair”?
11. transformation: How does the race change Squeaky’s view of Raymond? Of Gretchen? Of
herself? What prompts these changes? Does anyone else change in the story?
12. respect: What is respect? What does it mean to be “worthy of respect” (page 32, line 33)?
Who earns respect in this story?
Record your own notes: thoughts, other instances of issues, etc. Additional space on page at end
of this section.
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Experience
Points in the story that may resonate with the reader’s own life experience.
1. When you were growing up, what responsibilities did you have for helping around the house,
earning money or caring for other family members? Were these responsibilities similar to
those of your peers? How did you feel about your role in the family?
2. Have you known anyone—relative or friend, child or adult—who was “not quite right”? How
did that person behave? How did others treat him/her? What was your relationship to that
person?
3. When you were growing up, did you tend to solve problems and conflicts through talk or
action? How did your strategy work? As an adult, are you more likely to respond with talk or
action? Which do you think is more effective? Why?
4. Do you have any nicknames—or did you, as a child? Where did they come from? How did
you feel about them? Do you prefer to use different names (nicknames, pet names, street
names, real name) in different situations or with different people? Why?
5. When you were growing up, did you have a special talent, ability or gift? How did you feel
about that talent? Did anyone encourage or discourage you from using it? How did your
talent affect your relationships with others?
6. Do you “act like things come easy” to you or do you let others see you practice and strive for
what you want? Do you know anyone who acts “like things come easy”? Do you think that’s
really true?
7. Have you ever felt the kind of rivalry Bambara describes between Squeaky, Gretchen and the
other girls? What caused the rivalry? How did you respond to it? Do you think it’s true that
“girls never really smile at each other” (page 26, line 33)? Why?
8. When you were growing up, did anyone ever tell you to “act like a girl” or “act like a boy”?
What did that person mean? In what ways is your behavior now “typically female” or
“typically male”? In what ways do you defy traditional gender roles or expectations?
9. What does it mean to “be yourself”? In what situations have you felt able to ‘be yourself”?
Who or what supported or encouraged you? Who or what made it difficult to be yourself?
When have you felt you were “faking it” or being phony?
10. Do you have a lucky number? Have you ever developed a ritual or habit (like Squeaky’s
practice of breathing on counts of seven) that you believed would bring you good luck or
success? Did it work?
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11. Have you ever tried to “psych yourself” before a race, a job interview, a test or other
challenging task? How did you do it? Have you ever tried to “psych” others so that they
would fail, as Raphael Perez does in the story? What was the result?
12. Have you ever gained respect for someone you formerly disliked, or had your assessment of
a person change? What caused the change in your opinion of that person? What does it mean
to you to be “worthy of respect”?
Record your own notes: thoughts, other instances of experience, etc. Additional space on page at
end of this section.
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Coordinator Notes
Record your own notes: thoughts, other instances of poetics, tensions/contrasts, shadows, issues,
experience, possible discussion paths, questions you might consider.
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DISCUSSION PATHS
Introducing the story
before reading the story, you might want to:
1. Share biographical information about Toni Cade Bambara.
2. Invite readers to think of a time when they did something challenging that engaged them
completely: What was that experience like? How did they prepare for it? How did they feel
afterward?
3. Invite readers to brainstorm about the title: What questions, ideas, images or expectations
does it evoke?
Discussion questions
Poetics  P
Tensions/Contrasts  C Shadows  S
Issues  I Experience  E
1.
“I don’t have much work to do around the house like some girls...All I have
to do in life is mind my brother Raymond, which is enough.” (page 23, line 5)
What is Squeaky’s role in her family? What is Raymond’s? How does she feel
about her responsibility? When you were growing up, what responsibilities did
you have for housework, earning money or caring for other family members?
Were those tasks similar to what was expected of your peers? How did you feel
about those responsibilities? How do you handle this issue as parents?
PCE
2.
“But a lot of people call him my little brother cause he needs taking care of
cause he’s not quite right.” (page 23, line 7) What does she mean by “not quite
right”? Does Raymond need “taking care of”? How do others respond to him?
Have you ever known anyone who was “not quite right”? Why do people tease
those who are different? Who defines “right”?
PSIE
3.
The story’s narrator refers to herself variously as “Squeaky” (page 23, line 18),
“Mercury” (page 24, line 3), “Miss Quicksilver” (page 27, line 19) and “Hazel
Elizabeth Deborah Parker” (page 29, line 3) What do each of these names
signify? Why does she want Mr. Pearson to use her full name? Do you have any
nicknames? How do you feel about them? Do you use different names in different
situations, or with different people? Why? What are the positive and negative
aspects of nicknames?
PCIE
4.
“And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in
my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take
my chances…” (page 23, line 14) What is “playing the dozens”? Why does
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Squeaky say she prefers action to talking? In the story, which conflicts are
addressed through action, which through words? Are you more likely to use
words or actions to resolve your conflicts? What works/what doesn’t work about
your typical strategy?
PCIE
5.
“I’m the fastest thing on two feet.” (page 23, line 19) and “I’m the swiftest
thing in the neighborhood” (page 24, line 3). Is Squeaky confident or cocky
about her talent for running? How does her attitude affect her performance? How
does it affect her relationships with family and friends? Do you have a talent, gift
or ability that you are proud of? Did anyone encourage or discourage your talent?
How does that talent affect your relationships?
PSIE
6.
“I’m serious about my running, and I don’t care who knows it” (page 24, line
34) and “Now some people like to act like things come easy to them, won’t let
on that they practice.” (page 25, line 1) Why do some people act “like things
come easy” while others make no secret of their dedication and effort? Have you
known anyone who acts “like things come easy”? Do you think it’s true? How
about you—do you let others see your commitment and effort or do you hide it?
Why?
CSIE
7.
What is the source of the rivalry between Squeaky, Gretchen and the other girls?
How does each express her feelings toward the others? Is this different than the
rivalry felt by boys? How? Have you ever felt a similar sense of competition or
rivalry with peers? How did you express it? Did anything happen to change it?
SIE
8.
“…even if my mother thinks it’s a shame I don’t take part and act like a girl
for a change” (page 27, line 23) How is Squeaky’s behavior or attitude different
from that of other girls? How do she and her family feel about that difference?
When you were growing up, did anyone ever tell you to “act like a girl” or “act
like a boy”? What did that person mean? Today, are there ways your behavior is
“typically” male or female? Are there ways you defy gender expectations or
roles?
PCIE
9.
“Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile, and I’m thinking that girls never really
smile at each other...” (page 26, line 32) What does she mean by a smile that’s
“not a smile”? Is it true that girls “never really smile at each other”? Why? Are
there other examples of phoniness, falseness or “faking it” in this story? Are there
times when you have felt you were being phony? Are there any advantages to
“faking it”?
PSIE
10.
“…when you should be trying to be yourself, whatever that is…” (page 27,
line 31) and “It’s as real a smile as girls can do for each other…” (page 32, line
30) What does it mean to “be yourself”? Is it the same as being “real”? What are
instances in this story of someone being authentic or “real”? At what times in
your life have you felt able to “be yourself”? Who or what encouraged you? Who
or what made it difficult? How would the world be different if people felt able to
“be themselves” most of the time?
PSIE
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11.
“…I sort of like her a little for the first time.” (page 31, line 19); “…it
occurred to me that Raymond would make a very fine runner” (page 31, line
34) and “…I can always retire as a runner and begin my whole new career as
a coach” (page 32, line 5) How does the race change Squeaky’s view of
Gretchen? Of Raymond? Of herself? What prompted those changed perspectives?
Have you ever changed your mind about someone? What caused you to reassess
your opinion of this person? Have you ever done something that changed your
view of yourself or your image of your future? What was it? Does Raymond, like
Squeaky, have a “gift” for running? Is it important to develop our “gifts”? How
do you coach someone toward development of their gifts / talents?
CSE
12.
“…cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead
of something honest and worthy of respect…you know…like being people.”
(page 32, line 32) What is respect? What does it mean to be “honest and worthy
of respect”? What qualities or behaviors in other people earn your respect? What
qualities or behaviors in you earn the respect of others?
PSCIE
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Final Impressions
After the session, take some time to make notes about the discussion: interesting points that
readers raised, questions that arose, disputes, confusions. Jot down your own impressions of the
session: what worked well; what would you do differently the next time?
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SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
by Toni Cade Bambara
novels, short stories and essays:
Deep Sightings and Rescue Missions: Fiction, Essays and Conversations. New York: Vintage
Books, 1996.
Gorilla, My Love. New York: Vintage Books, 1992.
The Salt Eaters. New York: Vintage Books, 1980.
The Sea Birds Are Still Alive: Collected Stories. New York: Random House,
1977.
Those Bones Are Not My Child. London: Women’s Press, 1999.
by other authors:
Brown Girl, Brownstones, by Paule Marshall. New York: The Feminist Press, 1996.
In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women, by Alice Walker. New York: Harvest, 1974.
Sula, by Toni Morrison. New York: Vintage, 2004.
The Women of Brewster Place, by Gloria Naylor. New York: Penguin, 1983
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, by Audre Lorde. Berkeley: Crossing Press, Inc., 1983.
anthologies:
The Black Woman: An Anthology. New York: Washington Square Press, 2005, edited by Toni
Cade Bambara.
Breaking Ice: An Anthology of Contemporary African-American Fiction, edited by Terry
McMillan. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Children of the Night: The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1967 to the Present, edited by
Gloria Naylor. New York: Little, Brown & Co., 1995
Shaking the Tree: A Collection of New Fiction and Memoir by Black Women, edited by Meri
Nan-Ama Danquah. New York: Norton, 2003.
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