Atlanta Exposition Response

“If you don’t stand for anything, you’ll fall for everything” (Young Caesar). Booker T. Washington definitely has something that he stands for; he stands for the welfare of the Negro race. Washington provided many different ways he thought would improve the lives of the colored people even though the Negro race may not have whole-heartedly agreed with it. He was called upon to make an address on behave of the Negro race, he was their representation.
Booker T. Washington expresses that the majority of the Negro race “in no way have the value and manhood of the American Negro been more fittingly and generously recognized than by the managers of this magnificent Exposition at every stage of its progress” (Washington 1). Washington expresses his gratitude to the Atlanta Exposition. He states that when it was his time to speak that there was cheering, even from the colored people. That means a lot. The fact that there were even colored people there were in attendance was a big deal. Washington stresses that the Negro race should become friends with the “white men” because they may become a time where you may need them. Washington provides an example of this in his speech. “To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land or who underestimate the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the Southern white man” (Washington 1). He encourages peace and love between separate races.
There is something consistent about Booker T. Washington in majority of his speeches, letters, etc. The consistent factor is that he always expresses the importance of an education to his audience. He is constantly striving for a better future for his people. He does this because he knows just how much an education would benefit the Negro race. Similar to the saying heard now that the only thing that can not be taken away from you is your education. In the beginning of the passage Washington speaks about “casting down your bucket.” He does this because he is the voice of the Negro race and their representation. He was to compromise with the “white man.” “Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging them as you will by your surplus land, make blossom the waste places in your fields, and run your families” (Washington 2). It seems like Washington is trying everything he can think of to get the proper education for his race, even if they, the colored people, may think that they are being put right back into what they wish they could get away from, slavery. Washington stresses education, he has experienced first hand the positive effects of an education and he knows that if more of the colored people could only receive an education they can finally stand up for themselves and make their lives so much better. He says that the colored people will do what no other person would do just so that they can have the opportunity to have an education. He later mentions the fact that the colored people are the people that the “white man” knows the ways of so well. “Cast down among the eight millions of Negroes whose habits you know” (Washington 2). He is trying to persuade the “white man” to accept his offer by emphasizing the fact that the colored people are trustworthy and won’t try to use their education to rebel against the “white man,” Washington refers to the colored people as “unresentful people” (Washington 2).
Booker T. Washington once again stresses his belief in education. He even comes to a point were he is compromising with the opposite race to receive. As the representative of the Negro race he feels he must take a stand and accomplish this for his people. Although his people may not completely agree with him he knows that this is what they ultimately need to succeed.