What is the central idea of this excerpt from "the destiny of colored americans" by frederick douglass? the white man’s happiness cannot be purchased by the black man’s misery. virtue cannot prevail among the white people, by its destruction among the black people, who form a part of the whole community. it is evident that the white and black "must fall or flourish together." in the light of this great truth, laws ought to be enacted, and institutions established--all distinctions, founded on complexion, ought to be repealed, repudiated, and for ever abolished--and every right, privilege, and immunity, now enjoyed by the white man, ought to be as freely granted to the man of color. where "knowledge is power," that nation is the most powerful which has the largest population of intelligent men; for a nation to cramp, and circumscribe the mental faculties of a class of its inhabitants, is as unwise as it is cruel, since it, in the same proportion, sacrifices its power and happiness. the american people, in the light of this reasoning, are at this moment, in obedience to their pride and folly (we say nothing of the wickedness of the act), wasting one-sixth part of the energies of the entire nation by transforming three millions of its men into beasts of burden. what a loss to industry, skill, invention (to say nothing of its foul and corrupting influence) is slavery! how it ties the hand, cramps the mind, darkens the understanding, and paralyses the whole man! nothing is more evident to a man who reasons at all, than that america is acting an irrational part in continuing the slave system at the south, and in oppressing its free colored citizens at the north. regarding the nation as an individual, the act of enslaving and oppressing thus, is as wild and senseless as it would be for nicholas to order the amputation of the right arm of every russian soldier before engaging in war with france. america's black population needs international assistance to progress. the united states should allow its black citizens to enlist and participate in the war effort. the united states needs to grant its black population freedom and equality. blacks and whites cannot coexist peacefully in the united states.

C). The United States needs to grant its black population freedom and equality.

Explanation:

The central idea is illustrated as the main dominating idea that is central to the plot and surrounds the entire story. It primarily functions to unify the different elements of the plot together.

In the given excerpt from Frederick Douglass' "The Destiny of Colored Americans" reflects the central idea that 'the US needs to grant its black population with the rights of liberty and equality' as it is the major idea that dominates the passage throughout. It is reflected by Douglass' recurring descriptions that imply that 'the white man’s happiness cannot be purchased by the black man’s misery' and author urges that 'white and black "must fall or flourish together'.

The author suggests that the blacks too should be granted the rights of 'equality and liberty' so, they also would be able to contribute to the nation's growth which they(Americans) are wasting very year in a fit of their pride and folly'. Thus, option C is the correct answer.

if you want me to check your answer i agree with what you put. i read the story

1. read the following excerpt from franklin d. roosevelt's "fireside chat 19":

on the other side of the picture, we must learn also to know that guerilla warfare against the germans in, let us say serbia or norway, us; that a successful russian offensive against the germans us; and that british successes on land or sea in any part of the world strengthen our hands.

remember always that germany and italy, regardless of any formal declaration of war, consider themselves at war with the united states at this moment just as much as they consider themselves at war with britain or russia. and germany puts all the other republics of the americas into the same category of enemies. the people of our sister republics of this hemisphere can be honored by that fact.  

the true goal we seek is far above and beyond the ugly field of battle. when we resort to force, as now we must, we are determined that this force shall be directed toward ultimate good as well as against immediate evil. we americans are not destroyers — we are builders.

analyze the effectiveness of this excerpt. how does it function within the speech as a whole? how does the structure of the excerpt to convey the speech's purpose and key points? support your argument with evidence from the speech. (10 points)