Analysis Of Atlanta Compromise Speech By W. E. B. Dubois

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In the “Atlanta Compromise Speech” by Booker T. Washington and the “Niagara Movement Speech” by W.E.B. DuBois, both authors explain that human rights should be a given for everyone no matter their skin color. Washington and DuBois both take a stand on jobs, education, and integration of African Americans into American society as equals in order to convince white Americans that African Americans should be able to have and do anything that they can. While Washington seems to have a better position for each topic, DuBois is able to explain his position more effectively. Washington provides better examples and reasoning for his points, and DuBois is more successful at gaining the audience’s attention and motivating them to help gain African Americans …show more content…

Washington believes that African Americans should “[Cast themselves] down in agriculture, mechanics, in commerce, in domestic service, and in the professions,” (Washington 1). Meaning Washington wants African Americans to focus on jobs that they have already been doing and not jobs that would be out of their comfort zones. Washington uses a reasonable idea in his explanation of where African Americans should situate themselves in the American economy since solid foundations take time. He claims that if African Americans go into the newer workforce, specifically white collar jobs, then they will be overwhelmed with what they can do, and might fail or have a hard time trying to figure out what they are going to do for the rest of their lives. This provides proof to the audience for why Washington has the most correct and most logical stance on African American's jobs. He feels like they should take their time and stick to the jobs they know. DuBois also claims that African Americans are best suited for manual labor jobs because they are hard workers and have been doing those types of jobs for a long time now, some even their whole lives. DuBois says that “[the] men of the Niagara Movement coming from the toil of the year’s hard work and pausing a moment from the earning of their daily bread,” (DuBois 1). Throughout his speech, DuBois explains that African American’s are great manual laborers, and that is what they should focus on when the receive their freedom. He provides credibility for the men of the Niagara Movement by using “daily bread,” a symbol of their religion and morality, and repeating that the men are hard working, and are not just looking for an easy way out. DuBois wants to make sure that white Americans known that African

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