3a. Booker T. Washington’s response regarding the following years of the Civil War and the era of Reconstruction is an interesting one to say the least. Unlike most African Americans at the time who wanted equality immediately, Washington understood that things would not happen instantaneously. Therefore, his address at the Atlanta Exposition upset some of his fellow African Americans. The reason for this was due to the influence his words and opinions had on both parties present. Washington was not concerned about the segregation. His main concern was for the whites to allow African Americans to contribute to the economic progress of the country. He wanted to befriend the Southern white man and had argued that in order to better the …show more content…
3b. During Booker T. Washington’s Atlanta Exposition Address, he planned on compromising with the whites in order to get closer to equality for African Americans. In Washington’s effort to compromise with the Southern whites he says, “Cast it down in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions.” In this statement, Washington states that he will push African Americans to become proficient in a trade, which would allow them to contribute more to society. Washington believes this statement would allow African Americans to further their knowledge, as well as provide more opportunities for them and eventually cause them to gain their equality and natural rights. However, Washington also states that segregation during this time is okay by saying, “In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." Washington’s reasoning behind this type of mindset was because he understood that this change of lifestyle was just as drastic for African Americans as it was for whites. Therefore, he wanted to make this transition as smooth as …show more content…
He attempted to do this by appealing more to white Southerners during his Atlanta Exposition Address; however, he only upset many African Americans. Washington’s approach was a much more gradual one compared to what other members of the African American community had in mind. Therefore, Booker T. Washington faced scrutiny from his fellow African Americans for this opinion. Other African Americans, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, wanted to gain their equality immediately and by any means necessary. African Americans felt bitter towards Washington because they felt that he was not as concerned with obtaining equal rights for African Americans. African Americans wanted to stand up and fight for the rights that they felt they deserved following years of being oppressed by slavery. An alternate course of action to Booker T. Washington’s plan of attack would be quite similar, yet it would be one where the segregation of races would not be tolerated. Washington’s ideology of gaining a trade is a respectable idea; however, African Americans must also stand up
Booker T. Washington was known as a teacher, writer, and spokesperson for African Americans. However, his plan for African Americans is not one that I particularly agree with. Although W.E.B Du Bois was not on the same level as Washington and not as respected, his plan of action was one that I in fact do agree with. Washington’s plan consisted of African Americans giving up the fight for their civil rights and continuing to depend on the white man. Du Bois on the other hand, had a plan of action. His disagreement with Washington was not just because he disliked Washington but more because he saw him as a sellout. Du Bois
To me it is obvious why many whites agreed with Washington and many blacks disagreed with him. I agree with Washington by not demanding our rights because making demands would be met with opposition and nothing will be done that is necessary to bring blacks up to the equality line. On the contrary, I disagree with the way that Washington believed that blacks should just ignore how whites treated us with violence then turn around and try to earn their respect. African Americans during this time wasn’t trying to hear this because just 3 years before his speech in Atlanta, 156 blacks were lynched in one year alone. To the blacks of that time, forgetting that was too big of a pill to swallow and it is obvious why blacks second-guessed the views of Booker T. Washington.
The debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois turned out to be one of the greatest intellectual as well as inspiring battles in our United States history. This great debate sparked the interest of African Americans and whites throughout the entire country. Both men had distinct views on how blacks should go about progressing politically, socially, as well as financially here in the United States. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans; But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights, while Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop
washington knew that blacks would never be equal to the whites. DuBois wrote a book called, "We want to be Americans, full-fledged Americans, with all the rights of American citizens." DuBois also criticized Washington's Tuskegee approach as an attempt "to educate black boys and girls simply as servants and underlings." DuBois had become the leading black figure in the United States. Dubois encouraged African-Americans to work hard, regardless of their careers. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans. But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights. Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop good relationships with whites. He was afraid that blacks who demanded equal rights would create ill will between themselves and white Americans. Washington said to an all white audience that "In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." That quote meant that blacks and whites can all do the same things. In conclusion, Booker T. Washington focused on having education for real life jobs and not asking for equality from the
Is it possible to fix the relationship between two teams, friend, and races for just a few days? What about convincing a gathering of persons divided and with prejudice and racial discrimination over many years to live and work side by side? It some how seems unreasonable but maybe is it not. Nevertheless, ignoring the traditional notions concerning the taxing relationship between whites and blacks, Booker T. Washington, through The Atlanta Exposition Address from Up from Slavery Chapter 14, notices the importance of mutual progress regardless of the conflicts or challenges the races had before. Booker T. Washington was a prominent educator and the lone founder of Tuskegee National and Industrial Institute. In his speech, Washington makes use of rhetorical devices like repetition and metaphor, pathos and logos to support the collaboration between the white race and the black race to promote the development of the financial success within the South. In this particular speech, he opts to caution his fellow blacks against a feeling of claim to accompany their new attained freedom, while at the same time soothing his audience of whites that the eradication of oppression and servitude is nothing to be worried about, since the whites and blacks have similar mutual objectives in pursuing the renaissance of the South.
Booker T. Washington believed that blacks should not push to attain equal civil and political rights with whites. That it was best to concentrate on improving their economic skills and the quality of their character. The burden of improvement resting squarely on the shoulders of the black man. Eventually they would earn the respect and love of the white man, and civil and political rights would be accrued as a matter of course. This was a very non-threatening and popular idea with a lot of whites.
Booker T. Washington’s philosophy and actions betrayed the interests of African Americans because he was more interested on the blacks getting educated and getting the respect of the white authorities, instead of worrying on getting their political and social equality right away, which was the main interest of the African Americans. In “The Atlanta Exposition Address”, Washington said that blacks would sacrifice their civil rights and social equality for the time being, as long as whites guaranteed that they would receive industrial education and jobs because he believed that in order to fully obtain equality, the blacks should improve themselves. “It is at the bottom of
Booker T. Washington is one of the most respected and influential African American figures in American history, Mr. Washington was born into slavery and was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. His peaceful personality along with his exceptional education in many different studies turned him into a well-rounded individual. Washington wanted blacks and whites to become partners and strive for both races to succeed. He delivered his most famous speech in 1895 known as the “Atlanta Compromise”. In Atlanta Georgia, Mr. Washington expresses himself with exceptional rhetoric and tone throughout his speech. He states that African Americans should take benefit of what they know and endeavor
It was during the Recreation Period when the rights of the blacks were not the same as the whites and made their lives difficult. Segregation was very common at the time. It affected many of the black society, including Booker T. Washington. He was a major contributor to the end of segregation, and in 1895, he delivered the Atlanta Compromise Speech. He believed that with the hard work of the blacks, that they would earn and gain the respect of the esteemed whites. The main idea of The Atlanta Compromise Speech was that blacks should obtain social responsibility and need to work from the bottom to top to achieve this. Booker T. Washington’s speech was given to persuade the citizens to end the idea of segregation and promote cooperation
Booker T. Washington delivers the 1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech to a white and black audience about the equality blacks and whites deserve. As a black speaker in the north, Washington influences and impresses many of the northern citizens with his moving speech. Washington brought with him “...evidence of racial progress in the South”. His audience contained the president and the board of directors as well as citizens.
of the races, and accommodation. He urged blacks to accept discrimination for the time being and concentrate on elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity. Washington believed in education, industrial and farming skills and themes of patience, owning busineses and thrift. This, he belived, would win the respect of whites and lead to African Americans being fully accepted as citizens and integrated into all stagesof society. Washington's thinking was one of accommodation to white oppression. He advised blacks to trust southern whites and accept the fact of white supremacy. He stressed the interdependence of blacks and whites in the South, but said they were to remain socially separate: One of Washington's famous quotes was "In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." Up from slaves 1901p.Washington counseled blacks to remain in the South, obtain a useful education, save their money, work hard, and purchase property. By doing such things, Washington believed, the Negro could one day be a full fledge citizen.
Washington’s Atlanta Compromise Speech was one of the most iconic speeches about racial injustice in American history. Washington’s plan, which he explained in his speech, definitely has its strengths, however had some weaknesses as well. The plan requested that white Americans help to fund education for black Americans. One of the strengths of the plan was that it was not asking for a lot. Caucasian Americans were not likely to get offended or angry about his plan when he asked for so little. Another strength of the plan was that it was very easy to carry out. It was one step, and although it may have been a small step, it was still a step in the right direction. His plan was simply requesting to improve racial equality by just a bit. This small-scale goal was easy to accomplish and very reasonable. On the other hand, Washington’s plan had its weaknesses. The main weakness of the plan was the lack of political action proposed to end or at least lessen racial inequality. Booker T. Washington basically agreed to submit to white law and segregation, only if black Americans received education. His plan was rather insufficient. Giving African Americans an education was not even close to reaching social, political, and economic equality in the nation. Therefore, Washington’s plan was a beneficial plan on the small-scale, but long-run proposed no major ideas to lessen racial
The Afro-American Almanac located on Professor Tygiel’s “Sites of Interest to History Majors” have a copy of Booker T. Washington’s famous “Atlanta Compromise” speech that he delivered in 1895. Neither before, nor since, has one speech had such a profound effect upon the career of a politician and the people that he sought to represent. Indeed, Washington’s primacy was assured when he in dramatic fashion promised (eye witness accounts have him thrusting his hand forward to underline this point) the south that: “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” The south, indeed America quickly embraced
A well-known African-American spokesman and leader, Booker T. Washington, in his speech, The Atlanta Compromise, describes how the treatment and equality aren't the same for African American people as it is for white people. Washington’s purpose is to try and persuade his audience that black and white people should have the same rights and be treated equally. He adopts a passive tone in order to convey to his audience that the black community does a lot of services for white people and aren’t treated as such. Booker T. Washington effectively convinces his audience that everyone should have equal rights through diction, facts and statistics, and figurative language.
Booker T. Washington was born a slave on a Virginia farm, founded the Tuskegee Institute, and became one of the most influential African-American intellectuals of the 1900s, he then gave a moving speech to white men in the cotton states. He used anecdotes, analogies, imagery, and extended metaphors to create a moving and notable speech. The Atlanta Exposition address was a speech given by the representative of the African-American race. Washington wanted his fellow African-Americans to act rationally and calmly. Even though they were treated badly he wanted them to remain practical and omit any protests. Civil rights was a very big issue and the ignorant statement the African-Americans were making was getting out of hand and potentially counteracting the initial goal of freedom.