A Journal of Dreams Angela Harmon

1Beatrice flipped through her binder of newspaper articles that she had written over the past few years. Although the articles were just rewritten from the headlines she read in the paper or from newspaper clippings her parents had saved, she knew that one day she would become a newspaper reporter and cover news stories herself. One of the articles rehashed a story her parents had clipped from the newspaper years earlier. The article was about an African-American woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.

2Beatrice examined her work:

3Act of Defiance Lands Woman in Jail

4Rosa Parks, an African-American woman, was arrested on December 1, 1955, after refusing to give up her seat on a bus and move to the designated section of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This was not the first incident involving African Americans fighting for equal rights. More and more African Americans were fighting back against the laws that segregated whites and blacks.

5Newspapers had been covering incidents such as these for many years now and Beatrice was enthralled by reading about how the country was evolving. She felt a sense of empowerment after perusing these articles. She wanted to write as eloquently as the journalists at the newspaper, and she wanted to inspire others through her own writing. Furthermore, she wanted to make a difference in the civil rights movement—just as Rosa Parks and others did.

6She flipped the page to read another one of her articles:

7Sit-In at Lunch Counter Sparks Controversy

8Four African-American students were refused service when they sat at the whites only lunch counter in Woolworth's in Greensborough, North Carolina on February 1, 1960. The students—who refused to leave the counter despite threats and warnings—remained at the store until it closed. Over the next few days, more people joined the peaceful sit-in at Woolworth's.

9The day after Beatrice reviewed her articles, her sixth-grade class went to listen to a civil rights speaker. As Beatrice listened to the speaker, she feverishly wrote down as much of the speech as she could, so she could write a news article about it later.

10When Beatrice got home, she reviewed her notes:

11My name is Mr. Wallace and I am an involved in the civil rights movement. When I was younger, I protested the way some whites treated blacks. I failed to understand why my rights were less important because of the color of my skin. Despite the powerful negative influences around me, my family and friends helped me realize I could do anything.

12I attended many protests and marches to support equal rights for all citizens. I attended a march in Washington, DC, led by Martin Luther King Jr. Afterward, King gave a speech. I was moved by what he said. He wanted what all people—white or black—wanted: to be treated fairly and equally, and, students, I believe that one day all citizens will gain that right.

13After rereading the speech, Beatrice felt more deeply than ever that she wanted to be a journalist and have a positive impact on her society. She knew that her journey would be difficult, but it would also be worthwhile.

Read the passage on the left to answer the following questions:
5)
Which story line BEST connects to this text?
A) A story of a brave young girl who overcame a terrible disease to go on to a career as a famous musician.
B) A story of a young boy who is inspired to work toward greatness as a baseball player after learning of the great teams that came from his area.
C) A story of a young girl who is inspired to run for political office after learning of the important ways elected officials improved life in her town.
D) None of these represent story lines that might connect in any way to the story of the girl and her developing desire to become a newspaper reporter.