Answer :
Final answer:
The author intends to highlight the urgency and necessity of direct action in the fight against segregation (option a.), emphasizing the prolonged wait for justice faced by those who are oppressed.
Explanation:
The sentence "Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was 'well timed' in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation" serves a specific purpose in the context of the civil rights movement. The author's intent is to establish the suffering experienced under segregation. Through this sentence, the author conveys a sense of urgency and the need for immediate action against segregation, highlighting the chronic delay and dismissiveness faced by those who are directly affected by it, particularly in the Black community.
The author is emphasizing the disconnect between what those unaffected by segregation deem as 'timely' and the lived experience of those who are denied their basic rights, punctuated by the incessant call to 'wait' which is tantamount to an indefinite postponement of justice. This sentiment is further reinforced by articulating that liberation must be demanded by the oppressed rather than waiting for it to be granted voluntarily, as history shows that those in positions of power and privilege rarely relinquish their advantages willingly.
By including this statement, the author stresses the importance and legitimacy of direct action civil rights campaigns as a necessary method to confront and dismantle the entrenched system of segregation. It underlines the theme that justice delayed is justice denied, a concept deeply rooted in ethical principles and the fight for civil rights.