The Atlanta Compromise Analysis

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Stephen Lewis History 311 Professor Sjovold Tues.-Thurs. 7:30am Booker T. Washington Booker T. Washington would have responded to John Hope’s paper, A Critique of the Atlanta Compromise, with what he felt were reasonable, rational, and logical ideals to help blacks of the post-slavery era find a path to equality without the risks associated with demanding everything they truly deserved. In The Atlanta Compromise Mr. Washington did not think it was necessary to harbor hatred and anger against the whites that had mistreated so many black individuals. He found it more appropriate to forgive them for their atrocities and move forward rather than look back. In his speech at the Cotton State Exposition he made it very clear that he wanted…show more content…
Hope felt that no black citizens should be left with less than any white citizens when it came to their rights as free individuals of the United States. He starts his critique of The Atlanta Compromise with, “If we are not striving for equality, in heaven’s name for what are we living?” He immediately makes it clear that separate and not equal is no different than being the slaves they were before they were given their freedom. Mr. Washington’s reply would have been simple; we need to take smaller steps to avoid hatred, anger, and the likely death of our people in the South. He would have told Hope that having small freedoms, earning others, and making a wage while doing so was the path of least resistance. Mr. Hope would have adamantly disagreed with this…show more content…
Washington was very astute in his dealings with the whites of the South. He had an innate ability to forgive them for treating blacks so cruelly and inhumanely. It was important to him to move forward and not dwell on the past. He was sure it was right to slowly assimilate black slaves to freedom rather than thrust it upon them all at once; perhaps he looked at his beliefs as way of allowing only the best of his race to succeed and find their own ways to freedom. Whatever his intent, this would have kept them enslaved to the whites of the South. Blacks were segregated and treated unfairly for many years to come by the whites of the South. Their rights were ignored by many white leaders; while attempting to appear as though they truly cared about the welfare of the blacks trying to become productive and honest citizens of The United States. In some ways he was right to proceed cautiously as it could have led to many deaths, but sometimes one must make a sacrifice to allow others to truly
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