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November 14, 2005
The Atlanta Exposition Address
Washington, ''Address of Booker T. Washington...'' (1895) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging them as you are doing on these grounds..." (Washington 2).
I chose this line because it is so powerful and compelling for Booker T. Washington, being of the White race, to extend his thoughts on being against another race. He was explaining to the crowd that we all need to work together, no matter what the race, in order to be successful as Americans living together. He said right at the very beginning that 1/3 of the South was "of the Negro race". This is a large amount of people that cannot be simply told to leave, so everyone might as well get along. I like how he says to "cement the friendhip between the two races" because he is trying to change the situation forever. This address was compelling because he took a risk by trying to help unite the races.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at November 14, 2005 05:20 PM
Comments
I agree. I also thought it was interesting that he was taking such a stand for the opposite race. That is a good quote, "cement the friendships between the two races." He is supplying a change that will last, not just a suggestion for something that is going wrong at that moment.
Posted by: Stacy at November 14, 2005 05:38 PM
Wait a minute. Are you saying that Booker T. Washington was of the White Race? He was the "Negro Educator." He was a black man who educated many other people. That's why his address was so compelling. I might be reading this wrong, but Booker T. Washington was African-American. I can absolutely agree that he was trying to make a difference for black people, mainly because that was his race, and he was looking for equality. I hope that I wasn't misinterpreting that.
Posted by: Jason Pugh at November 14, 2005 11:20 PM
Jay- you aren't wrong. He was an African-American. However, perhaps he thought of himself in the White race due to his education and high standing. Which is sad, that he should have to view himself as part of another race just because he is high achieving black man.
Posted by: Vanessa at November 15, 2005 12:57 AM
Well I guess I missed that detail, this whole time I thought he was white, oops. Thanks for clearing that up. I feel kinda dumb now!!!
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 15, 2005 09:11 AM
Don't feel bad, Ashley. As I mentioned in class, it was actually a good opportunity to bring in the contrast between Washington's strategy and the more aggressive, less compromising approach. Is Washington a realist or an enabler? What's your opinion?
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at November 15, 2005 12:36 PM
Well, Dr. Jerz, I would have to go with enabler because he is, in deed, accommodating. He enables people to believe that he is speaking to all races, especially to the whites, who need the most lecturing about equality. By Washington having an uncommon attribute, such as an education and being African American, he is enabled to meet the white people because of his education and the black people because of his skin color. I know he's not a realist because he doesn't speak for what the majority of the uneducated African Americans with southern dialect were like.
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 16, 2005 07:13 PM