Exploring the Text

1. What are Booker T. Washington’s goals as articulated in this speech? What does he believe is the best way to achieve them?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: What are Booker T. Washington’s goals as articulated in this speech? What does he believe is the best way to achieve them?
2. What appeals to ethos does Washington make in the opening paragraphs? What additional appeals to ethos does he make as the speech proceeds?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: What appeals to ethos does Washington make in the opening paragraphs? What additional appeals to ethos does he make as the speech proceeds?
3. What is the point of the story Washington tells in paragraph 3 about a “ship lost at sea”? What is the rhetorical effect?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: What is the point of the story Washington tells in paragraph 3 about a “ship lost at sea”? What is the rhetorical effect?
4. This speech has come to be known by the sentence “Cast down your bucket where you are” (para. 3). What does Washington mean by this exhortation?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: This speech has come to be known by the sentence “Cast down your bucket where you are” (para. 3). What does Washington mean by this exhortation?
5. In what types of work does Washington want African Americans to engage? Are such jobs as readily available now as they were at the time of his speech? To what extent do his ideas apply in our current economy?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: In what types of work does Washington want African Americans to engage? Are such jobs as readily available now as they were at the time of his speech? To what extent do his ideas apply in our current economy?
6. How do you interpret Washington’s concluding statement in paragraph 5: “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress”?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: How do you interpret Washington’s concluding statement in paragraph 5: “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress”?
7. Why is the Shakespeare quotation in paragraph 6 (“‘blessing him that gives and him that takes’”) appropriate to the point Washington is making?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: Why is the Shakespeare quotation in paragraph 6 (“‘blessing him that gives and him that takes’”) appropriate to the point Washington is making?
8. Discuss two possible—and contrasting—interpretations of Washington’s assertion: “The opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory just now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera-house” (para. 10). In today’s age of globalization and outsourcing, when many of our factory jobs have gone to foreign workers, does this statement still apply? Rewrite the sentence, replacing “factory” with a contemporary place of employment. Does the new sentence effectively update the idea? Why or why not?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: Discuss two possible—and contrasting—interpretations of Washington’s assertion: “The opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory just now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera-house” (para. 10). In today’s age of globalization and outsourcing, when many of our factory jobs have gone to foreign workers, does this statement still apply? Rewrite the sentence, replacing “factory” with a contemporary place of employment. Does the new sentence effectively update the idea? Why or why not?
9. Where in this speech does Washington implicitly argue against racial stereotypes and advocate American values of rugged individualism and a strong work ethic? How have racial stereotypes changed since then? Is our work ethic as strong now as it once was?

   Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: Where in this speech does Washington implicitly argue against racial stereotypes and advocate American values of rugged individualism and a strong work ethic? How have racial stereotypes changed since then? Is our work ethic as strong now as it once was?
10. Discuss the importance of the occasion and audience of this speech. How do these factors influence its form and content?

    Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: Discuss the importance of the occasion and audience of this speech. How do these factors influence its form and content?
11. In the introduction to Washington’s autobiography, Up from Slavery, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Nellie McKay make the following observation: “To some, Washington’s autobiography seems to paper over centuries of accumulated white responsibility for the evils of slavery, and instead of demanding the reform of white American institutions, it calls for African American conformity to the dominant myth of individualism in the United States. To other readers, however, Washington’s message in Up from Slavery puts its priorities exactly where they had to be—on the necessity of self-help within the African American community” (Norton Anthology of African American Literature). Which view is closer to yours? Cite specific passages to support your position.

    Chapter 7 - The Atlanta Exposition Address - Exploring the Text: In the introduction to Washington’s autobiography, Up from Slavery, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Nellie McKay make the following observation: “To some, Washington’s autobiography seems to paper over centuries of accumulated white responsibility for the evils of slavery, and instead of demanding the reform of white American institutions, it calls for African American conformity to the dominant myth of individualism in the United States. To other readers, however, Washington’s message in Up from Slavery puts its priorities exactly where they had to be—on the necessity of self-help within the African American community” (Norton Anthology of African American Literature). Which view is closer to yours? Cite specific passages to support your position.