Question

and so by fateful chance the negro folk - song—the rhythmic cry of the slave—stands to - day not simply as the sole american music, but as the most beautiful expression of human experience born this side the seas. it has been neglected, it has been, and is, half despised, and above all it has been persistently mistaken and misunderstood; but notwithstanding, it still remains as the singular spiritual heritage of the nation and the greatest gift of the negro people.
—“the sorrow songs,”
w. e. b. du bois
which of the following statements best expresses the theme of this passage?
spiritual heritage is not important to african americans.
the meaning of spirituals is equally understood by all americans.
the spiritual is important to all american culture, not just to african americans.
spirituals became america’s music when enslaved people sang in the fields.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The passage emphasizes the spiritual heritage as a gift to the nation, not that it's unimportant to African Americans. Eliminate this.
2. Analyze Option 2: The passage focuses on the value of Negro folk - songs (spirituals) as a national and Negro heritage, not on unequal understanding. Eliminate this.
3. Analyze Option 3: The passage says the Negro folk - song is "the singular spiritual heritage of the nation and the greatest gift of the Negro people", showing it's important to all American culture, not just African Americans. This matches the theme.
4. Analyze Option 4: The passage doesn't focus on when spirituals became America's music, but on their significance as a heritage. Eliminate this.

Answer:

The spiritual is important to all American culture, not just to African Americans.