Topic > Analysis of the Atlanta Compromise Speech by Booker T. Washington

Index AuthorSummary and AnalysisConclusionAuthorBooker T. Washington, was born in 1856 and lived until 1915. Unlike Carnegie, Booker only made it to the age of 59. slave in Virginia and was educated at Hampton Institute.” This institute taught Washington skills rather than educational studies. In 1881, Booker created the same school but in Alabama, called Tuskegee Institute. In 1895, he was invited to give a speech at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta, which was later called "The Atlanta Compromise Speech" by journalists. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This was a speech in which he noted that he condoned social segregation. No specific audience was made clear, but everyone at the expo and since it was on television, the audience was mostly African Americans because he expresses his opinion on segregation and they would like to hear what he has to say. Booker T. Washington argued that blacks and whites should support each other because in the future they would need each other. Washington states that “we may overlook the fact that the masses of us must live by the production of our hands, and fail to bear in mind that we shall prosper in proportion as we learn to ennoble and glorify the common labor.” Washington argues that whites and blacks do the same jobs, in the same way, so why can't they band together and work together? Washington wants to bring unity between the two races.Summary and AnalysisBooker describe how education given by whites can help blacks do their jobs for them. He states: “Help and encourage them as you are doing on these lands, and, with the education of head, hands and heart, you will find that they will buy your surplus land.” It must be remembered that Washington attended a trade school that teaches job skills rather than education. With the above statement, Washington is asking for help from whites so that they can help blacks with education in job skills. According to him, these kinds of skills are more important than educational ones. Washington argues that “political convention or lip service had more attractions than starting a dairy farm or a vegetable garden.” For people who value education, he is implying that attending a political convention was “better” than starting his own business. Washington would prefer to start a dairy farm or vegetable garden with the skills he learned in trade school. This is what he wants his fellow African Americans to accomplish. They should learn to work with their hands and the only way is for white people to help them learn. What do white people get out of it? Why should they just help African Americans when most of them don't get along with them and would prefer them to work in their fields? Washington gives them an incentive, saying they will “run your factories.” He wants whites to help African Americans so that when the time comes, they will be ready to run the factories for them and handle the work for them. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Even though Washington thought he was helping the African American community, many black intellectuals didn't like the speech at all. They thought it was primarily aimed at southern whites because technically it was. Washington talked about the entire race and decided it would be worth it to educate blacks to work under whites. Many African Americans are too offensive for this speech. Even if they were offended, white people loved him..