Booker T Washington Address At The Atlanta Cotton Exposition

In 1895, Booker T. Washington, a dominant leader of the African American Community, delivered a speech at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition. According to the primary source “Address at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition,” Washington addresses his speech to a white American community. During the first part of his speech, Washington addressed the whites Americans by building an honorable feeling for African Americans. He expresses that “the sentiment of the masses of my race when I say that in no way have the value and manhood of the American Negro been more fittingly and generously recognized than by managers of this magnificent Exposition at every stage of its progress” (Address at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition 1). In other words, Washington tries to appeal to white Americans’ confidence by claiming that African Americans are honorable workers with high proficiency. He continues to express that this “recognition will do more to cement the friendship of the two races” (Address at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition 1). By using the word “friendship” he calls for a mutual agreement between white Americans and African Americans. …show more content…
Washington refers to this metaphor to enhance the races sympathy towards mutual agreement or “friendship”. He promotes industrial progress and advocated vocational education to Africans Americans by asking them to “Cast down their bucket in agriculture, mechanics, commerce, domestic service and in the professions” (Address at the Atlanta Cotton Exposition 4). In addition, Washington encourages white southerners to also “cast down their buckets” to give an opportunity to African Americans. He expresses that African Americans had already “prove their loyalty” to whites by taking care of the southerners’ children and