Genesis Begins Again is full of recurring symbols, including but not limited to hair, music, the list, and the brown paper bag. Choose one symbol and explore how it reflects Genesis’s struggle with her identity over the course of the novel.

Genesis’s father plays a major role in how Genesis views herself. Describe the positive and negative affect her father has on her life. Would you argue that her father has actually changed at the end of the novel? Why or why not?

What role do hairstyles play in the novel? Why does Genesis judge others’ hair when she first meets them? What role does hair play for women/girls of color?