Excerpt from An Open Letter to College Men—The Meaning of the Niagara Movement and the Junior Niagara Movement, 1909
There came into existence in July, 1905, as doubtless you are aware, a national organization of colored men. From the place of its meeting it took the name of Niagara Movement [. . .]
The answers to the other questions [about the purpose of the Movement] may be summed up in the objects of the Niagara Movement as expressed in its constitution:
(a) Freedom of speech and criticism
(b) An unfettered and unsubsidized press.
(c) Manhood suffrage.
(d) Abolition of caste distinctions based simply on race and color.
(e) The recognition of the principle of human brotherhood as a practical present creed.
. . .
The Niagara Movement represents, I might say, the final attitude to which every courageous, race-loving, self-respecting, intelligent Negro has been driven. After many years, following the line of least resistance, during which we have been deprived by our ruthless enemies of many rights and privileges, we have come to the decision to stand hard and fast by all the rights and privileges pertaining to us as American citizens.
Use the excerpt from An Open Letter to College Men to answer the question.
The author contends that African Americans have lost ground in the struggle for civil liberties because they have
A.
focused only on creating organizations.
B.
too often made the wrong decisions.
C.
not sufficiently fought back.
D.
used violence to protect property.