Question

Although the pay was low for the time-only $13 a month, many African Americans enlisted because they could earn more and be treated with more dignity than they typically could in civilian life. How does the excerpt serve as a contradiction to the central idea surrounding the honor directed toward the Buffalo Soldiers?

- A) The civilian life offered a very elite position in society for Young and his soldiers.
- B) The Buffalo Soldiers were not influenced by the images they projected in society.
- C) The money was not why Young and the Buffalo Soldiers risked their lives for their country.
- D) The dignity expressed here doesn't align with the discrimination Young and his soldiers endured.

Answer 1

The excerpt contradicts the central idea surrounding the honor directed toward the Buffalo Soldiers by highlighting the disparity in their treatment versus other soldiers, choosing option D as the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt serves as a contradiction to the central idea surrounding the honor directed toward the Buffalo Soldiers because it highlights the disparity between the dignity and honor they received as soldiers versus the discrimination and low valuation of their service in wider society. The correct answer is D) The dignity expressed here doesn't align with the discrimination Young and his soldiers endured. Despite their service, African Americans soldiers like the Buffalo Soldiers were treated as second-class citizens and faced segregation and inequality in pay and treatment even within the military.

The low pay they received as soldiers, although higher than what they could earn in civilian life, did not solve completely the systemic issue of racial inequality they experienced. Their enlistment was not primarily for monetary gain but also for the pursuit of dignity and a demonstration of their worthiness as American citizens.