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Booker T. Washington's famous speech at the Atlanta Exposition...
Booker T. Washington's famous speech at the Atlanta Exposition...
Item # 590506
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September 19, 1895
SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, September 19, 1895 Just the day prior noted African-American spokesman Booker T. Washington spoke before a predominantly white audience at the Cotton States & International Exposition in Atlanta, a speech which would go down in history as one of the most significant by any African-American, to be known as the "Atlanta Compromise" (see hyperlink for further information).
Although organizers of the exposition were concerned that the public may not be prepared to hear a black speaker, they decided he would impress northern visitors with the evidence of racial progress in the South.
His presence and speech simply captivated the audience and this very lengthy report reflects the excitement of his presentation and the significance of his words in the history of race relations during this critical time when wounds of the Civil War were still fresh.
The report has one column heads at the top of page 5 including: "The Great Exposition Begins" "Imposing Parade In Atlanta" "Judge Speer's Splendid Oration" and the first subhead reads: "Booker T. Washington's Fine Address in Behalf of the Negro Board..." (see). The coverage takes all of page 5 and includes the full text of his famous speech, the only newspaper we have found to do so. He begins: "One half of the population of the South is of the negro race. No enterprise seeking the material, civil, or moral welfare of this section can disregard this element of our population and reach the highest success..." followed by the full text of his speech (see). The page has several illustrations relating to the Atlanta Exposition.
Complete in twelve pages, light browning, a few archival mends on margin tears, somewhat fragile, should be handled with care.
Category: Post-Civil War
No Longer Available
