Atlanta Exposition Argumentative Essay Civil rights activist, Booker T. Washington in his address “Atlanta Exposition” delivers and influential speech about equality of race in the South. Washington's purpose is to appeal to white southerners and importance of the common interests between African-Americans and whites. He adopts a persuasive tone in order to convince both African American and white southerners that they can achieve progress but separately. Washington begins by addressing the population of African Americans in the south. “One-third of the population of the South is of the Negro race.” He establishes the importance of African Americans in the South. He then goes on stating “The opportunity here afforded will awaken