English

Liana Mcclain

19 October, 22:45

Read the stanzas below from the poem "Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall and answer the question that follows.

"Mother dear, may I go downtown Instead of out to play, And march the streets of Birmingham In a Freedom March today?" "No, baby, no, you may not go, For the dogs are fierce and wild, And clubs and hoses, guns and jails Aren't good for a little child." "But, mother, I won't be alone. Other children will go with me, And march the streets of Birmingham To make our country free." "No, baby, no, you may not go, For I fear those guns will fire. But you may go to church instead And sing in the children's choir."

What is ironic about the mother's wishes?

- The protest will be deadly, while the church will be safe.

-The daughter doesn't listen to her mother and goes to the protest.

-The daughter has already been to church that morning.

-The church will prove just as dangerous as the protest.