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November 14, 2005
Booker T. Washington
Washington, ''Address of Booker T. Washington...'' (1895) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
For this section I chose the line, "I spoke for five minutes to an audience of two thousand people, composed mostly of Southern and Northern whites. What I said seemed to be received with favor and enthusiasm." I chose this line because he talks about the fact that although he was talking about equality for everyone, he was able to get through to the people in a short amount of time. It was also interesting to hear that he was able to get through to them and they were really interested in what he had to say.
Posted by StacyEstatico at November 14, 2005 03:43 AM
Comments
I thought this address was also powerful because of the person who gave the speech. He was White and took a chance by addressing all races. I think it took someone like him to raise positive awareness about building friendships amongst all races.
Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at November 14, 2005 05:22 PM
Ashley, take another look at the Wikipedia biography of Washington. He was certainly interested in harmony between the races, so much so that some civil rights dismissed his approach.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at November 14, 2005 08:52 PM
"THE ATLANTA EXPOSITION, at which I had been asked to make an address as a representative of the Negro race..."
I hope that I am not misinterpreting, but I really thought that Booker T. Washington was an African-American educator. I think that is what made his speech so incredible, that he was strictly looking for harmony and equality between the White and Black Race. I love how in the other chapter, he drives 2000 miles from Boston to Atlanta to deliver a compelling speech, and it paid off. Congress passed a bill that Booker T. stood for a few days after that speech.
I made a comparison between Booker T. Washington, and Martin Luther King Jr. Maybe I'm stretching, but I honestly feel that both of these men stood for the same ideals and goals of the American society. I think that Booker T. Washington is just an absolutely admirable person in this time period. I discussed more about it in my blog, and I hope you get to check it out.
Posted by: Jason Pugh at November 14, 2005 11:26 PM
This is in regards to all of you. I guess I took Washington's speech with a grain of salt. I blogged about the black farmer that was "respected" by the white farmers for his methods. I just got this feeling that he wanted equality, but that white people really were reaching out to the black people, which I don't think is the case. Just a thought.
Posted by: Meredith Harber at November 15, 2005 01:10 AM