Briefing Paper Questions

(Teacher Note: Delete answer suggestions before copying the questions for students)

1. What were Terrell's two main concerns that she worked toward?
   (women's suffrage and women's rights, civil rights for African-Americans)
   
2. List five ways that Terrell worked to promote her causes.
   (writing, public speaking, lobbying, teaching, political activism)
   
3. Explain what Terrell's role in the Thompson Cafeteria test case was. (include the details of the case)
   (Terrell picketed, lead demonstrations, and was a key witness in the case in which three black people were denied service at a restaurant despite the anti-discrimination laws of 1872-1873, which mysteriously disappeared from the books. The Supreme Court upheld the old laws. )
   
4. Using the quote from Terrell cited in Jones and found under “importance” in the briefing papers, identify the writing/speaking techniques and vocabulary she uses to rally and unite women to her cause.
   (Terrell uses language that emphasizes unity – “National,” “joined hands,” “work together,” “common cause,” “partners,” etc. to bring her group together. Her diction shows that she is educated – “we wish to set in motion influences that shall stop the ravages made by practices that sap our strength, and preclude the possibility of advancement.” – and therefore helps to prove her equality. Statements such as “our peculiar status in this country … seems to demand that we stand by ourselves” show that she is calling on Black women to take the matter into their own hands – no one will do it for them.)