i / ReadWorks, Questions: Letter from Jackie Robinson on Civil Rights Name: Kz Date: 1. To whom is Jackie Robinson writing? A Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus B the Summit Meeting of Negro Leaders C the people of the United States 'D U.S. President Eisenhower 2. What does Jackie Robinson try to persuade the reader of his letter of? andvactions. oy B The president needs to send U.S. troops to schools across the South to enforce the desegregation of schools. © Pro-segregation leaders like Governor Faubus will continue to resist the integration of schools. D President Eisenhower's speech at the Summit Meeting of Negro Leaders offended many people. 3. The effort to desegregate schools in the South was met with resistance. What evidence from the passage supports this conclusion? A President Eisenhower reluctantly sent U.S. troops to enforce school integration in Arkansas. B At the Summit Meeting of Negro Leaders, President Eisenhower told the assembled African Americans that they must have patience. Americans from entering a school. » D Jackie Robinson wrote a letter to President Eisenhower about his civil rights comments, 4, How did Jackie Robinson likely feel when writing this letter? A relieved and happy € jealous and angry D tired and satisfied ReadWorks.org $2ii:2i210" 19 peaoma courrevension ! (22014 Rania ne Ale mreReadWorks Questions: Letter from Jackie Robinson on Civil Rh 5. What is the main message of Jackie Robinson's letter? A African Americans shoul Id have the right to attend integrated schools, B President Eisenhower to ok the wrong action when dealing with Governor Faubus. annot | © African Americans c: be patient and wait for their civil rights. D African Americans have been the most patient of people. 6. How does the paragraph “Time and Setting of the Letter” relate to Jackie Robinson's letter? ‘A It provides historical background for the letter, ~ B It describes how President Eisenhower responded to the letter. € It explains how other African Americans felt about the letter. D It describes how the letter affected the civil rights movement. 7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. According to Jackie Robinson, African Americans have been vi for their civil rights; ery patient while waiting they can no longer wait for things to change. A meanwhile B for example C inthe end D however 8. In Jackie Robinson's letter, what do African Americans want to receive? a He , Suggested answer: Students shi ‘ould indicate that African Americans want to rece! are entitled to under the Constitution, eer Saunas nee ReadWorks.org 2522.20 seaye comes :———— _adWorks _ Questions: Letter from Jackie Robinson on Civil Rights 9. According to Jackie Robinson, how did President Eisenhower unknowingly crush the spirit of freedom in African Americans? Suggested answer: President Eisenhower unknowingly crushed the spirit of freedom in African Americans by telling them that they must continue to be patient and wait for their civil rights and by = — giving hope to pro-segregation leaders like Governor Faubus. i Nw ur 10. Explain how Jackie Robinson supports his argument that African Americans can no longer “wait for the hearts of men to change” in order to receive their civil rights. Suggested answer: Answers may vary and should be supported by the passage. Students may list any of the following points, or others (stronger answers will mention multiple): African Americans will only be able to enjoy their freedoms if they aggressively pursue them, not passively wait for them. Telling African Americans that they must continue to be patient crushes their spirit of freedom. Telling African Americans to be patient aids and gives hope to leaders (like Governor Faubus) who are pro-segregation and who do not want African Americans to gain their freedoms. + ReadWorks.org 235.:shiticn encans comrnenevsionReadWorks Questions: Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr,’s Letter from the Birmingham City Jal Name: Date: 1. As explained by Martin Luther King Jr., what is the purpose of nonviolent direct action? A It creates an environment of tension in which no one is willing to negotiate. B It prevents negotiations from taking place. it car y D It delays negotiation until people are ready to confront an issue. 2. Communities in the South refused to address the problems of inequality and racism. What solution did Martin Luther King Jr. propose? A take violent direct action so that people are forced to pay attention Batakemonvidleibulrectactionise that tieiproblem ianotibe ignored C wait for community leaders to agree to peaceful negotiations D work and preach against violent tension within communities 3. Thinkers and leaders other than Martin Luther King Jr. have created tension to bring about change. What evidence from the passage supports this statement? A “Just-as-Socrates felt that it.was necessary to.create.a tension in the mind so” B “You may well ask, Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches, etc.? Isn't negotiation a better path? You are exactly right in your call for negotiation.” “I just referred to the creation of tension as a part of the work of the nonviolent resister. This may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word tension.” D “Too long has our beloved Southland been bogged down in the tragic attempt to live in monologue rather than dialogue...” 4. Which audience did Martin Luther King Jr. most likely target when writing this letter? A people who supported his work B people who lived in the North € people who fought for civil rights 5. What is the main idea of this excerpt from King’s letter? A Without violent tension and fighting, change would be too slow. i d to bring about change. C Negotiation is a better method than direct action to cause change. D Socrates also used nonviolent tension to bring about change. ReadWorks.org 21: s2n2z ss,nsszute cononensnsionees; AdWorks Questions: Excerpt ftom Martin Luther King J's Letter ftom the Bimingham City Jail 6. Read the following sentences: “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.” As used in this sentence, what does the word “dramatize” mean? re important or serious + B make a situation seem funny and less important pay no attention to a situation, problem, or issue D write a play or a musical about a situation 7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Martin Luther King Jr. preached against violent tension, believed strongly in nonviolent tension. A then B so D like 8. According to Martin Luther King Jr., why do we need nonviolent gadflies in society? ReadWorks.org 21.s2n212" 1gcsae somrnenensionReadWorks ‘Questions: Except from Martin Luther King Jes Letter fom the Birmingham City 9. Explain why Martin Luther King Jr. mentioned the ancient Greek Philosopher Socrates in his letter. Support your answer using information from the lettes: 10. How did Martin Luther King Jr. view the state of the nation when he was writing this letter? Refer to the second paragraph to support your answer, Suggested answer: It is clear that Martin Luther ki when he uses the phrase “our pending national creay,” which suggests that the nation is facing o dest of policy rapst likely @ death of its own principals and promine ir addition, he is also critical of the national Policy which he locates as being in “the quicksond of acial injustice,” which conveys the sense that thie Lather Policy is not stable or solid, as it can easily fall “Part due to its racial injustice. However, Martin ther King 2. also seemed optimistic, giving hope tut the promise of democracy can be made real snd that the pending national elegy can be transformed wea 2 creative psalm of brotherhood, as the funeral pollen be transformed into a sacred song of brotherhood. Furthermore, he also states that the national Policy can be lifted from the “quicksand of racial injustice” to the “solid rock of human dignity.” Hence, Martin Luther King Jr. was optimistic that the promos Gr democracy could be realized if the opportunity was taken to do what is right, eee ELE 5 ReadWorks.org 22.00 j2yasy0 commre: AeadWorks Texts: “Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr's Letter From the Bimningham City Jai” (0 Discuss you OMSWES. TOPO ts \¥Z Part 1: Use the article “Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From the Birmingham City Jail” to answer the following questions: 1. According to Martin Luther King Jr, why does nonviolent direct action seek to create a crisis? 2, Why does Martin Luther King Jr. think itis necessary to create "constructive nonviolent tension” in society? Part 2: Use the article “Letter from Jackie Robinson on Civil Rights” to answer the following questions: 3. Jackie Robinson heard President Eisenhower suggest that black Americans must have patience. What did Jackie Robinson feel like doing when he heard this? 4. The word "forbearance" means patient self-control. Why does Jackie Robinson feel that the President is crushing the spirit of freedom in African Americans by urging them to have forbearance? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. Cinpse. | gpestion below and-complete on notchoak, PAPEL LED and MASE NAVE MELT EVI Robinson on Civil Rights” to answer the following questions: 5, Both Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr. wrote letters that express their views on how to fight for equality for African Americans. How are their views similar? Use information from both letters to support your answer. 6. Read this paragraph from Jackie Robinson's letter: "17 million Negroes cannot do as you suggest and wait for the hearts of men to change. We want to enjoy now the rights that we feel we are entitled to as Americans. This we cannot do unless we pursue aggressively goals which all other Americans achieved over 150 years ago.’ How might Martin Luther King Jr. respond to this statement? Use evidence from his letter to support your answer. ReadWorks.org 2:5. :2.u2 sasszons conrsenesion