The Atlanta Exposition Address

The Atlanta Exposition Address is the fortieth chapter of Booker T. Washington’s autobiography. This autobiography was called Up From Slavery and it was written in 1901. The chapter begins by telling the reader that Booker T. Washington, the author, was in the Atlanta Exposition representing the Negro enterprise and Negro civilization. He then describes how he gave a brief speech to the white and black community, and then continues by writing about some personal experiences and his point of view on some particular issues. Some of these experiences and issues include the outcome of his speech, how he meets and thinks about the President of the United States, the invitation to be a judge in an educational contest, the Negro ministry, and voting. In this chapter, Booker T. Washington’s main theme is how two different races can live together in ...