The Atlanta Exposition Address

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 …

…people were illiterate, but now I know I’m wrong. I thought that they were illiterate because, just as the author described the Negro ministry, a race with a few years out of slavery had no time or opportunity to educate themselves. I really think that Booker T. Washington was an honest, sincere, and extremely smart person. In order to think about life they way he did, that requires wisdom and not everyone has it.