The Bonfire of the Vanities Lesson Plan

Justice Is Not So Blind

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will research how racial injustice pervades the ostensibly "blind" American legal system.

Structure:

As the novel's plot begins to gain momentum and the law draws ever closer to arresting Sherman McCoy, issues of race inevitably start to push themselves into the foreground. Bonfire of the Vanities is a novel that explores these issues in detail. As such, for this activity, students will research and prepare a report on the historical roots of the racial disparities within the American justice system.

Reports may include or focus entirely on the following topics:

- The historical roots of...