Using the text excerpt below, write a summary of the text. Then select a sentence to paraphrase in your own words.

He, sir, proposed a Convention without distinction of caste—a proposition which no doubt will be acceptable, because by exchanging views with those who have every advantage, we are materially benefitted. Persons likely to associate with our people in such manner, are generally educated people, and possessed of depth of sentiment. Their influence on us should not be lightly considered. We have been holding conventions for years—have been assembling together and whining over our difficulties and afflictions, passing resolutions on resolutions to any extent; but it does really seem that we have made but little progress, considering our resolves. We have put forth few practical efforts to an end. I, as one of the people, see no need for our distinctive meetings, if we do not do something. We should do more, and talk less.

~Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Letter to Frederick Douglass, January 25, 1849

A summary of the given text is: There is a need to include new people in this Convention, people that are of a different caste, to give us a new perspective so we can move forward by rubbing minds and ideas from different cultures together.

What is a Summary?

This refers to the concise representation of the main ideas of a text that is done in an objective manner, without bias.

Hence, we can see that based on the given text, the paraphrase that I would like to make is from the last sentence and it goes thus:

New and practical efforts have been put to move forward our collective interests and this would make our meetings more productive and worthwhile.