In the opening sentences of the passage ("Now I know... color of my hair!"), the author refers to Alice Walker primarily to A
impress her audience with the breadth of her literary knowledge
B
flaunt her access to privileged information about the planning of the commencement ceremony
С
congratulate her audience for inviting her instead of a lesser-known speaker
D
acknowledge the potentially embarrassing circumstances under which she is delivering her speech
E
suggest that she pays more attention to her personal appearance than do other celebrities

D

Explanation:

It's awkward that their first choice was Alice Walker and that she got chosen instead because Walker declined. Many students protested her speaking and the comedic relief at the beginning and the acknowledgement of the circumstances was necessary to potentially get the students to listen to her.

- "the die is cast; i have consented to return if we are not destroyed. thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision; i come back ignorant and disappointed. it requires more philosophy than i possess to bear this injustice with patience. i have lost my hopes of utility and glory; i have lost my friend."

um, what am i suppose to answer here? it just said that he will studied hared because of a grade in spanish.