Which of the following terms best describes the connotative meaning of the underlined word in the excerpt

It has a negative connotation, suggesting instability and stymied progress.  a connotative meaning is something that is associated to or an expression carried by the dictionary meaning of the word. the possible connotation of “quicksand” is “instability and stymied progress” as its primary meaning which is an area/situation that is difficult to escape can be associated to describe the racial injustice of the nation, as the excerpt says.