Question

In 1954, Ethyl Payne asked President Eisenhower about segregation, the separation of white people and black people on buses. Eisenhower got mad. His reaction was big news. The Washington Post said Payne had "annoyed" the president. "From that time on, civil rights was moved to the front burner," Payne said later. Everyone was talking about it. Suddenly, civil rights began to be the big issue. Payne's question was ___.

A. Selfish
B. Important
C. Loud
D. Common

Answer 1

Ethyl Payne's 1954 question to President Eisenhower was important as it brought heightened national attention to the civil rights movement and signaled a shift in government prioritization towards addressing racial injustice.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1954, Ethyl Payne's question to President Eisenhower about segregation was clearly Important. Eisenhower's reaction signaled the gravity of the civil rights movement and highlighted the urgency to address racial injustice in America.

At a time when African American citizens faced widespread discrimination and segregation, Payne's pointed question to the President and his angered response thrust the issue of civil rights into the national spotlight.

This not only increased public discourse but also signified a shift in the prioritization of civil rights by the government.

Indeed, following Payne's confrontation and the subsequent events, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the use of federal troops to enforce desegregation, it became evident that civil rights was a critical issue demanding immediate attention from the highest levels of government.