Question

Just before the court hearing where Governor Faubus would be called to account, the nine of us were summoned to Mrs. Bates's house to meet with the press. Nothing had changed since our last meeting. The troops were still in place around the school, and every morning the crowd of segregationists grew larger. Governor Faubus was still predicting violence.

Several very dignified and important-looking men sat in her living room. One was the NAACP attorney, Wiley Branton. I recognized another man whose picture I'd seen in the newspapers: the famous lawyer Thurgood Marshall, the man who had delivered the argument that resulted in the Supreme Court's 1954 school integration ruling.

What is the author’s purpose for including these details?

Answer 1

C

Explanation: C

Answer 2

This question is incomplete because the options are missing; here is the missing section:

What is the author’s purpose for including these details?

A. To entertain readers with related stories

B. To entertain readers with colorful descriptions

C. To inform readers about the historical context

D. To inform readers about her town’s violent past

The answer to this question is C. To inform readers about the historical context

Step-by-step explanation:

This excerpt belongs to the autobiography "Warriors Don't Cry" by Melba Patillo, which describes her experiences as she and other African-American students fought for their right to attend an all-white-school. In the excerpt, Patillo refers to a meeting with the press before the court hearing.

Moreover, in this passage, the author includes details such as "One was the NAACP attorney, Wiley Branton", "the famous lawyer Thurgood Marshall" or "the Supreme Court's 1954 school integration ruling" that focus on the historical context of the events.

For example, the detail about the Supreme Court decision in 1954 shows the events described occurred after the Supreme Court had demanded integration in schools, indeed, the events described by Melba occurred at the end of the 1950s. Also, the fact, important lawyers such as Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) are interested in supporting Melba and other students explain during this time there was a general interest in protecting the civil rights of African Americans. Thus, the purpose of these details is to explain the historical context.