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09:Pretest
HS: English 3B [M] (Prescriptive) (GP) / 9:Contemporary Literature
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6.
Read the excerpt.

I must close now. But before closing I am impelled to mention one other point in your statement that troubled me profoundly. You warmly commended the Birmingham police force for keeping “order” and “preventing violence.” I don’t believe you would have so warmly commended the police force if you had seen its angry violent dogs literally biting six unarmed, nonviolent Negroes. I don’t believe you would so quickly commend the policemen if you would observe their ugly and inhuman treatment of Negroes here in the city jail; if you would watch them push and curse old Negro women and young Negro girls; if you would see them slap and kick old Negro men and young Negro boys; if you will observe them, as they did on two occasions, refuse to give us food because we wanted to sing our grace together. I’m sorry that I can’t join you in your praise for the police department.

Based on this passage from “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr., who are the South’s “real heroes”?


the police dogs


the protesters


the police force

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Answer 1

Based on the passage from "Letter from Birmingham City Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr., the South's "real heroes" can be interpreted as **the protesters**. King emphasizes the courage and dignity of the unarmed, nonviolent Negroes who stand up against oppression, contrasting their actions with the violent and inhumane treatment they receive from the police.