Ernest Gaines has observed that contemporary literature and historical accounts often emphasize significant events and major cities. Investigate what he refers to as the "rural past" and discuss how ordinary Americans living outside urban areas have influenced history. Potential time periods to explore include the American Revolution, the expansion of the American West, and the eras of World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Vietnam War.

Describe how the individual "recording" Jane's narrative succeeds in making history more compelling. How does Jane's story facilitate a clearer understanding of events from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement?

Conduct research on the Reconstruction period in American history. Which initiatives to restore the South were unsuccessful, and what were the reasons for their failure? Why were individuals like Colonel Eugene I. Dye able to return to their plantations?

Jane Pittman expresses her admiration for Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. Investigate the history of African American involvement in professional and Olympic sports, and write a paper linking significant achievements in sports to milestones in the civil rights movement for African Americans.