A Separate Peace

Question 1

What made whites accept Booker T. Washington as the face of African Americans?

Answer 1

• humility/apologized for black actions
• self-help dialogue shifted responsibility to black progress from whites to blacks
• economic emphasis eliminated white fear of black interest in politics
• very American/Patriotic
  (HSEV)

Question 2

What was significant about Washington’s invitation to the 1893 Conference of Christian Workers?

Answer 2

• rare opportunity for black to speak in front of big white Southern audience

Question 3

How did whites respond to Washington’s five minute speech at the Conference?

Answer 3

• were pleased w/ message

Question 4

What were Washington’s objectives he sought to accomplish in his five minute speech at the Conference?

Answer 4

• describe work of Tuskegee + discuss race relations

- display racial philosophy of moderation
DD

Question 5

What event was Washington invited to in 1894?

Answer 5

• House Committee on Appropriations gathering in DC

- Atlanta men there to ask for federal grant for Atlanta Exposition

Question 6

What did Washington address in the speech made to the House Committee on Appropriations in 1894?

Answer 6

• how he stayed out of politics/advised other blacks to do the same
• he devoted more time to improving education/economic opportunities for blacks
• urged blacks to acquire property/own land
• urged blacks to pull themselves up
  (HHUU)

Question 7

What did Washington was the way for the black race to be uplifted in America?

Answer 7

• secure property + assimilate to conservative society

SA

Question 8

How did the Appropriations Committee rule on the Atlanta Exposition grant?

Answer 8

• unanimously voted in favor of the bill

Question 9

What was significant about the actions the Atlanta Committee took after the bill had been approved?

Answer 9

• black invitees allowed at private meetings + given chance to speak
  (AG)

Question 10

What did the Atlanta Exposition directors propose in 1894 + what was its impact?

Answer 10

• a separate Negro Building

- controversy between building supporters vs wanting black pieces next to white pieces

Question 11

What did officials do to solve the Atlanta Exposition issue + what was the effect/response?

Answer 11

• made submissions of displays be screened by a committee (all white)
• virtually excluded any black exhibits
• some blacks wanted to boycott entire World Fair

Question 12

How did Washington respond to the actions taken by officials regarding the Atlanta Exposition?

Answer 12

• was ok w/ segregated Negro Building
• but refused to take charge of Negro Building to devote time to Tuskegee
• appointed Garland Penn in his place
  (WBA)

Question 13

What were the opinions of educated African Americans about the Atlanta Exposition Negro Building decision?

Answer 13

• weren’t happy
• doubted directors
• did not see benefits of exhibit
• feared discrimination against black exhibitors
• did not see where $$$ would come from for building
• dreaded failure over total refusal of opportunity
  (WDDFDD)

Question 14

Why did the Negro Building almost not get done + what was a significant demand made by educated blacks about the construction of the building?

Answer 14

not unanimous support/funding from black community

• insisted a black architect

Question 15

What decision did the Committee of the Negro Exhibit come to?

Answer 15

• Washington would speak for blacks at Opening Ceremony

Question 16

What was the argument that Penn made to Bullock regarding Washington speaking at the Exposition on Opening Day?

Answer 16

• blacks expected a black person to speak
• said no negro speaker could poorly affect attendance
• said blacks were entitled to have a speaker represent them (owed Washington)
  (BSS)

Question 17

What was going to be significant about the speech Washington was going to give at the Exposition?

Answer 17

• was going to have a national audience to spread philosophy

Question 18

What was Washington struggling w/ when writing his speech?

Answer 18

• fell at the same time of the beginning of new school year (couldn’t find time)
• felt inferior b/c he knew most of audience would be rich when he grew up poor
• knew if he spoke out of term about whites/discrimination it could get hostile

Question 19

What were the three different audiences that Washington was going to have to satisfy in his speech?

Answer 19

1. Southern whites
2. Northern whites
3. Negroes

Question 20

What were the cautions that Washington was being careful not to provoke?

Answer 20

• not to offend the South (didn’t want to ruin future opportunities for blacks to speak out)
• but would stay true to North/black interests
  (NB)

Question 21

What were the two lines that Washington recycled for use in his Exposition speech?

Answer 21

• we can be as separate as the fingers yet as one as the hand for maintaining the right
• cast down your buckets where you are
  (WC)

Question 22

What was Washington saying in “Taking Advantage of Our Advantages”?

Answer 22

• blacks should make most of economic opportunities in the South

Question 23

Who did Washington present his speech to before he departed for Atlanta?

Answer 23

• his wife + several Tuskegee staff members

Question 24

What did Washington know about the reason for the large white crowd for his speech?

Answer 24

• some were there out of curiosity

- some were there to watch him fail
SS

Question 25

Who was William H. Baldwin + what was his relationship w/ Washington?

Answer 25

• VP/GM of Southern Railroad
• Washington’s Northern counterpart
• became Tuskegee trustee
  (VWB)

Question 26

How did the crowd overall respond to Washington’s speech?

Answer 26

• were highly impressed both black/white

Question 27

What were the elements/talking points of Washington’s speech?

Answer 27

• Southern future can’t disregard blacks (too important to labor/economy)
• urged blacks to make friends w/ whites
• if whites gave blacks educational/economic opportunities blacks would be nation’s hardest workers
• blacks would successfully assimilate w/ whites + accelerate South economy if given the chance to improve
  (SUIB)

Question 28

What was Washington’s stance on segregation?

Answer 28

• social/political segregation was fine

- as long as economically they were partners
SA

Question 29

What did Washington do to try to pander to the white crowd members to listen?

Answer 29

• used stereotypical jokes about blacks

- dumbed himself/blacks down to make whites feel comfortable

Question 30

What approach did Washington see being the best way for African Americans to progress?

Answer 30

• focus on economic opportunities
• social/political rights would come if blacks can prove themselves reliable economic partner
• whites won’t be able to keep blacks down in that case

Question 31

Who did Washington cast the blame on for if his strategy were to fail?

Answer 31

• blacks could only blame themselves

Question 32

How did Washington compare himself to Frederick Douglass?

Answer 32

• felt the political focus of Douglass made him unprepared to prep blacks for opportunities freedom provides

Question 33

What did Clark Howell especially praise about the talking points in Washington’s speech?

Answer 33

• liked the turn away from social equality

Question 34

What do most historians attribute Washington’s sudden fame after the Atlanta Compromise to?

Answer 34

• was filling a void left by extinction of black politicians + death of Frederick Douglass
  (ED)