Question

Read the excerpt from "What Does American Democracy Mean to Me?” by Mary McLeod Bethune.

We are rising out of the darkness of slavery into the light of freedom. Here my race has been afforded [the] opportunity to advance from a people 80 percent illiterate to a people 80 percent literate; . . . from total disfranchisement to participation in government; from the status of chattels to recognized contributors to the American culture.

Which statement best evaluates the effectiveness of the speaker’s argument?

It is effective because it mentions specific ways the lives of African Americans have improved.
It is not effective because it focuses on efforts to help African Americans learn to read.
It is not effective because it fails to highlight important achievements of African Americans.
It is effective because it explains how many African Americans are in government.

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Answer 1

The statement is effective because it mentions specific ways the lives of African Americans have improved.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement in the excerpt from "What Does American Democracy Mean to Me?" by Mary McLeod Bethune is effective because it mentions specific ways the lives of African Americans have improved.

Bethune highlights the progress made by African Americans, such as advancing from an illiterate population to a literate one and transitioning from being treated as property to being recognized as contributors to American culture.

By citing these specific examples, Bethune effectively communicates the positive impact of American democracy on the lives of African Americans.