Question

read the excerpt from the souls of black folk by w. e. b. du bois. third, while it is a great truth to say that the negro must strive and strive mightily to help himself, it is equally true that unless his striving be not simply seconded, but rather aroused and encouraged, by the initiative of the richer and wiser environing group, he cannot hope for great success. in his failure to realize and impress this last point, mr. washington is especially to be criticised. his doctrine has tended to make the whites, north and south, shift the burden of the negro problem to the negro’s shoulders and stand aside as critical and rather pessimistic spectators; when in fact the burden belongs to the nation, and the hands of none of us are clean if we bend not our energies to righting these great wrongs. what is the author’s main claim? white citizens are too judgmental to be helpful to black citizens. black citizens need to work hard to be successful. washington is wrong to place all responsibility on black citizens and dismiss the responsibility of white citizens. black citizens must not expect wealthy government officials to support and encourage them.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The excerpt doesn't focus on white citizens being too judgmental to help, but on Washington's view of responsibility. Eliminate.
2. Analyze Option 2: While the first part says Black citizens should strive, the main claim is about criticizing Washington's view on responsibility, not just the hard work of Black citizens. Eliminate.
3. Analyze Option 3: The excerpt criticizes Washington for making whites shift the burden to Black citizens and not recognizing that whites (the "richer and wiser environing group") should also take responsibility. This matches the main claim.
4. Analyze Option 4: The excerpt says Black citizens need encouragement from the "richer and wiser environing group" (which may include government officials), so this option is opposite. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. Washington is wrong to place all responsibility on Black citizens and dismiss the responsibility of White citizens.