Atlanta Compromise Speech Analysis

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Shortcomings of Atlanta Compromise Atlanta compromise was a deal struck between Mr. Washington, African American leaders, and the south. It had a shortcoming with the fact that the blacks were not supposed to ask the right to vote, oppose the racism behavior and should tolerate segregation and accept discrimination. Mr. Washington stresses that the blacks should not move and they should cast down their buckets wherever they were. Du Bois disagreed with Mr. Washington on this, which he terms it as ‘Atlanta compromise.’ The rights of blacks to vote, to move and agitating for social equality were compromised. The Negroes were to accept social and political inequality for them to receive a fair share of the economy. The speech became the groundbreaking …show more content…

Washington faces a triple paradox in his explanation of work and money. In his attempt to make Negroes businesspersons, this was seen impossible because, without the right to vote, blacks could not defend their rights and could face unfair competition. Mr. Washington insisted on the thrift and self-respect, which contradicts with his counsels on being submissive to the civic inferiority. He supported common schooling and industrial training at the same time depreciating the institution of higher learning. This was impossible, as the Negros school could not be opened during the day. This triple paradox became a center of criticism of Washington’s position Du Bois Alternatives Du Bois saw that equality with the whites was very crucial. He proposed that blacks and whites should have equal social and political rights. Du Bois disagree with Mr. Washington on black suffrage. Du Bois advocates for the necessity of ballot voting, and he was against electing of illiterate blacks to be leaders. He states that economic progress could not be met without safeguarding from the political power. Mr. Washington disagrees with this stating that militant agitation could subject Negroes to more harm by picking up a fight with the whites. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington

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