Question

PART A: Which TWO statements best describe the central ideas of the article?

Answer 1

Answer:

I assume you are referring to Jessica McBirney's article "Emmett Till". If that's the case, the two correct statements are C ) The national attention received by Emmett Till’s murder embarrassed many Southerners into fighting for racial equality and E ) Emmett Till’s death turned him into a symbol of America’s racial injustice, inspiring many to promote equality for all.

Explanation:

After Bryant and Milam admitted to killing the boy without showing any regret, there were various reactions - both positive and negative. Some Southerners did condemn their act as well as American justice system that set them free. Also, Emmett's death did fuel the Civil Rights movement, inspiring Rosa Parks' famous act of civil disobedience, as well as the Montgomery Bus Boycott that ensued.

The statement A) doesn't stand because Emmett wasn't just a random innocent boy who got unlucky. He was killed because of his race, which probably wouldn't have happened if he had been a white boy.

B) is slightly misleading because it wasn't only Mississippi that changed its justice system. The changes were systematic and happened at the federal level.

D) isn't correct because Emmett wasn't a random victim of "some" people's hate and fear. If we put it like that, it would relativize the crime.

Finally, F) isn't correct because not all Southerners thought he deserved to die. Only these particular Southerners, Bryant and Milam, did. Even though racism was prevalent in the South, it doesn't mean that all Southerners were racists - or that all of them would have done the same.