Reading Comprehension

In the 1930's and 1940's,
African American industrial
workers in the southern United
Line States, who constituted 80 per-
(5) cent of the unskilled factory labor
force there, strongly supported
unionization. While the American
Federation of Labor (AFL) either
excluded African Americans or
(10 ) maintained racially segregated
unions, the Congress of Industrial
Organizations (CIO) organized
integrated unions nationwide on the
basis of a stated policy of equal
(15) rights for all, and African American
unionists provided the CIO's backbone.
Yet it can be argued that
through contracts negotiated and
enforced by White union mem-
(20) bers, unions-CIO unions not
excluded-were often instrumental
in maintaining the occupational
segregation and other forms of
racial discrimination that kept
(25) African Americans socially and
economically oppressed during
this period. However, recognizing
employers' power over workers
as a central factor in African
(30) Americans' economic marginal17
ization, African American workers
saw the need to join with White
workers in seeking change despite
White unionists' toleration of or
(35) support for racial discrimination.
The persistent efforts of African
American unionists eventually paid
off: many became highly effective
organizers, gaining the respect of
(40) even racist White unionists by winning
victories for White as well as
African American workers. African
American unionists thus succeeded
in strengthening the unions while
(45) using them as instruments of
African Americans' economic
empowerment.


The author of the passage suggests which of the following about African American workers who participated in union activities in the 1930's and 1940's?

A. They believe that the elimination of the discrimination within unions union was a necessary first step toward the achievement of the economic advancement for African Americans.

B. They belonged exclusively to CIO unions because they were excluded from AFL unions.

C. They believed that the economic advancement of African American workers depended on organized efforts to empower all workers.

D. Some of them advocated the organization of separate African American unions because of discriminatory practices in the AFL and the CIO.

E. Many of them did not believe that White unionists in CIO unions would tolerate or support racial discrimination against African American workers.

I selected A but OA is C.
Could any expert please explain why option C is the correct answer?

First, here's how you can eliminate A.

From the passage:

"Yet it can be argued that
through contracts negotiated and
enforced by White union mem-
(20) bers, unions-CIO unions not
excluded-were often instrumental
in maintaining the occupational
segregation and other forms of
racial discrimination that kept
(25) African Americans socially and
economically oppressed during
this period. However, recognizing
employers' power over workers
as a central factor in African
(30) Americans' economic marginal17
ization, African American workers
saw the need to join with White
workers in seeking change despite
White unionists' toleration of or
(35) support for racial discrimination."

So contrary to what is stated in choice A, the African Americans successfully worked for economic advancement even while the situation was characterized by discrimination.

B can be eliminated because "(AFL) either
excluded African Americans or
(10 ) maintained racially segregated
unions".

The section in boldface above supports choice C.

There is nothing in the passage to support choice D.

What choice E states is contrary to what is stated in the passage.

Choose C.