THE SOUTHERN TIMES

Booker T. Washington (1895-1915)

Booker T. Washington was a key leader regarding the topic of civil rights for the duration of the Progressive Era. Washington was born as a slave in Virginia and later educated at Hampton Institute. Over the course of his life, he served as the president of the Tuskegee Institute located in Alabama, having diligently labored in order to establish the school. He also was the author of Up from Slavery and discussed race relations with President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House.

 

Washington's controversial belief was that African Americans should seek economic independence rather than social and political equality. On the opening day of the Cotton States and International Exposition, Washington delivered a significant speech, later to be referred to as the Atlanta Compromise speech due to its proposal that, in order to benefit each other, blacks and whites should acquiesce. The speech, in fact, molded the relationship between the two races and influenced black leadership for the aftermath period of 20 years.

 

The speech is as follows:

"A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal, “Water, water; we die of thirst!” The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back, “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A second time the signal “Water, water; send us water!” ran up from the distressed vessel, and was answered, “Cast down your bucket where you are!” A third and fourth signal for water was answered, “Cast down your bucket where you are.”The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River. To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land or who underestimate the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the southern white man, who is their next door neighbor, I would say: “Cast down your bucket where you are. . . .”"

 

Washington proffered congruent advice toward whites:

"Cast down your bucket . . . among the eight millions of Negroes . . . who have, without strikes and labor wars, tilled your fields, cleared your forests, builded your railroads andcities . . . the most patient, faithful, law-abiding, and unresentful people that the world has seen."

 

Suddenly, Washington threw his hand up into the air with his fingers spread apart. He then proceeded to ball his fingers into a fist:

"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." 

 

Washington's viewpoint, which supported his comments regarding social equality, was practical and realistic in consideration of the time period. Washington greatly influenced the continuing conflict for civil rights until his death in 1915.