In an interview, Bambara mentioned, "An awful lot of my stories... were written, I suspect, with performance in mind." With a group of classmates, create a staged performance of Hazel’s character and voice for your class. Invite the audience to write about how performing the story enhances its meaning and impact.

Examine "Raymond’s Run" in the context of the social and economic conditions for African American women during the era. Investigate historical attitudes toward black women and their social circumstances, including education, family roles, employment, availability of community services, and average family incomes in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Analyze the portrayal of Raymond as a mentally challenged character by comparing him to similar characters in literature and film, such as those in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon, and movies like Rain Man and Forrest Gump.

Research societal views on mentally challenged individuals in the early 1970s and discuss how "Raymond’s Run" reflects or challenges these perspectives. Have these attitudes changed significantly today?

Compare and contrast Bambara’s depiction of Hazel Parker with the portrayal of young black women in other literary works, such as Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Alice Walker’s short story "Everyday Use."