It began to seem that one would have to hold in the mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as they are: in the light of this idea, it goes without saying that injustice is a commonplace. But this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one’s own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but must fight them with all one’s strength. This fight begins, however, in the heart and it now had been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now.
—“Notes of a Native Son,”
James Baldwin
How does Baldwin propose to combat the negative effects of bitterness?
Baldwin suggests one should simply accept life and other people as they are.
Baldwin claims injustice is commonplace, and people must avoid fighting.
Baldwin argues fighting can only happen if people restrain themselves.
Baldwin says one must accept life without hatred but must fight against injustices.
THE ANSWER IS D.