Question

Read the excerpt from "Why Do Black Women Fear the Fro?” by Cheryl Thompson.

Admittedly, some black women have naturally long, straight hair, but most of us do not. As such, this is not about burning down the relaxer factory, or snatching a weave off someone's head. It's about uncovering the truth: when a black woman turns on her television, reads a magazine, or watches a movie, most of the images of black beauty she sees are fake, and her natural self becomes even more difficult to love.

How does the phrase "her natural self becomes even more difficult to love” affect the tone of the excerpt?

The phrase shows that the author is disheartened by the lack of authentic images.
The phrase implies that the author is confused by the images that women see.

Answer 1

The first choice is correct.

"Her natural self becomes even more difficult to love" conveys sadness and discouragement — a mournful, critical tone about how false images damage self-esteem. It expresses disheartenment and frustration rather than confusion; nothing in the phrase suggests the author is puzzled by the images, only that they make self-acceptance harder.