7- A man is to carry himself in the presence of all opposition as if every thing were titular and ephemeral but he. I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions. Every decent and well-spoken individual affects and sways me more than is right. I ought to go upright and vital, and speak the rude truth in all ways. If malice and vanity wear the coat of philanthropy, shall that pass? If an angry bigot assumes this bountiful cause of Abolition, and comes to me with his last news from Barbadoes, why should I not say to him, 'Go love thy infant; love thy woodchopper; be good-natured and modest; have that grace; and never varnish your hard, uncharitable ambition with this incredible tenderness for black folk a thousand miles off. Thy love afar is spite at home.' Rough and graceless would be such greeting, but truth is handsomer than the affectation of love. Your goodness must have some edge it, -else it is none. ....
Which best describes Emerson's answer to the angry bigot with concerns about the plight of those in Barbadoes (Section 7 of "Self-Reliance)
A. Have grace and love and tenderness for those poor "black folk a thousand miles off."
B. "Thy love afar is spite at home." Take care of those around you first. Then you can look to others.
C. The cause of Abolition is bountiful and all should embrace it - the infant, the woodchopper, etc.