Question

Difficulty: EasyThe New South and Jim Crow

Read the following excerpt from Booker T. Washington's Atlanta Exposition Address in 1895:

"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."

Which of the following statements best reflects the strategy advocated by Booker T. Washington in this excerpt?

  1. A
    African Americans should join with all civil rights leaders in demanding immediate federal integration of all public facilities.
  2. B
    African Americans should rely on the strict enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment to secure immediate political dominance in the South.
  3. African Americans should focus on economic self-reliance and vocational education rather than immediate social equality.Answer
  4. D
    African Americans should form a political coalition with the Populist Party to overthrow the southern industrial system.

Answer

African Americans should focus on economic self-reliance and vocational education rather than immediate social equality.
The correct answer is correct because Washington's speech proposed a compromise where Southern Black people would accept social segregation and disenfranchisement temporarily in exchange for the opportunity to gain economic advancement and vocational training.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the author and context of the quote.
Booker T. Washington's 1895 Atlanta Exposition Address, which laid out his accommodationist philosophy.
Understanding the source helps identify the core perspective of the author.
2
Analyze the metaphor in the excerpt.
Being 'separate as the fingers' refers to social segregation, while being 'one as the hand' refers to economic cooperation.
Deciphering the metaphor reveals Washington's willingness to tolerate social separation in exchange for economic partnership.
3
Match the analysis to the correct historical option.
The strategy of prioritizing economic self-reliance and vocational skills over integration.
This directly aligns with Washington's historical platform of self-help and gradual progress.

Key Concept

Booker T. Washington's accommodationist strategy and the New South racial compromise.
Estimated Time:45s
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