Question

emester a
i do not know, from what has been said, that there is any difference of opinion as to the duty of abolitionists, at the present moment. how can we get up any difference at this point, or any point, where we are so united, so agreed? i went especially, however, with that word of mr. phillips, which is the criticism of gen. banks and gen. banks policy. i hold that that policy is our chief danger at the present moment; that it practically enslaves the negro, and makes the proclamation the emancipation proclamation of 1863 a mockery and delusion. what is freedom? it is the right to choose ones own employment. certainly it means that, if it means anything; and when any individual or combination of individuals undertakes to decide for any man when he shall work, where he shall work, at what he shall work, and for what he shall work, he or they practically reduce him to slavery. applause. he is a slave. that i understand gen. banks to do—to determine for the so - called freedman, when, and where, and at what, and for how much he shall work, when he shall be punished, and by whom punished. it is absolute slavery. it defeats the beneficent intention of the government, if it has beneficent intentions, in regards to the freedom of our people.
i have had but one idea for the last three years to present to the american people, and the phraseology in which i clothe it is the old abolition phraseology. i am for the “immediate, unconditional, and universal” enfranchisement of the black man, in every state in the union. loud applause. without this, his liberty is a mockery; without this, you might as well almost retain the old name of slavery for his condition; for in fact, if he is not the slave of the individual master, he is the slave of society, and holds his liberty as a privilege, not as a right. he is at the mercy of the mob, and has no means of protecting himself.
it may be objected, however, that this pressing of the negros right to suffrage is premature. let us have slavery abolished, it may be said, let us have labor organized, and then, in the natural course of events, the right of suffrage will be
which best describes the diction of “what the black man wants”?
formal and impersonal
formal and scholarly
informal and casual
informal and direct

Explanation:

The text from "What the Black Man Wants" uses language that is informal (conversational tone, addressing the audience directly) and direct (clearly stating opinions about freedom, enfranchisement, and criticizing policies). It is not overly formal or scholarly, nor is it casual (it has a serious, purposeful tone). So the diction is best described as informal and direct.

Answer:

informal and direct