Baker - March on Washington

What is the primary purpose of the rhetoric (repetition) Baker uses in paragraphs 1 and 2?

• To reinforce the point that she was beat by her own country for her identity.

• To demonstrate the physical beatings that she endured because of her identity.

• To create an internal rhyme scheme within her speech to showcase her identity.

• To show how the racism she endured, because of her identity, was a one time event.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Read the implied claim from Baker's speech:

Other countries, like France, are more free than America. 

Which of the following sentences BEST describes the evidence that is the most relevant to support this claim?

• "And when I got to New York way back then, I had other blows—when they would not let me check into the good hotels because I was colored, or eat in certain restaurants."

• "So over there, far away, I was happy, and because I was happy I had some success, and you know that too."

• So then they thought they could smear me, and the best way to do that was to call me a communist.

• You must go to school, and you must learn to protect yourself.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Read paragraph 11 of the speech.

You know, friends, that I do not lie to you when I tell you I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad.

How does the underlined statement from paragraph 11 advance Baker’s overall purpose in the speech?

• It establishes Baker as a world traveler and develops the claim that she has never been treated so poorly because of her race than when in America.

• It develops the claim that if the richest people are treated badly, then the poor people stand no chance.

• It shows that she is royalty and that even though the American president treats her as such the restaurant hotel needs to do better.

• It demonstrates why she left America and develops her central idea that all Black people should leave the USA.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Baker repeatedly addresses the crowd as "friend" throughout her speech. What is the primary purpose of this rhetorical strategy?

• She is attempting to build her credibility with the audience.

• She is using the feeling of unity at the march to benefit her speech.

• After leaving America and coming back, she is trying to reestablish a good relationship with people who might be angry that she had the privilege to leave in the first place.

• All of the above.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

How do paragraphs 14 through 16 contribute to the development and refinement of Baker's claims?

• Baker refines her argument by stating that violence, the sword, and shouting as loudly as possible is how progress is made.

• Baker refines her argument by telling her own story to show that money and fame are what is needed to get ahead.

• Baker refines her argument by saying that listening to teachers and being a model student is the answer.

• Baker refines her argument by ending her argument where she began: the pen and words. She advocates for non-violence, and people of color who are educated and powerful through their minds.

Which line does Baker use to draw a connection between her experiences in France and racial prejudice in America to advance her argument.

• Eventually I ran far away. It was to a place called France.

• But on that great big beautiful ship, I had a bad experience. A very important star was to sit with me for dinner, and at the last moment I discovered she didn’t want to eat with a colored woman. I can tell you it was some blow.

• But I do not want you to have to run away to get it.

• I could go into any restaurant I wanted to, and I could drink water anyplace I wanted to, and I didn’t have to go to a colored toilet either, and I have to tell you it was nice, and I got used to it, and I liked it, and I wasn’t afraid anymore that someone would shout at me and say, “Go to the end of the line.”

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3