ipl-logo

Mrs Ruffner's Influence On Washington

861 Words4 Pages

Johnson uses his piano playing in order to create an emotional connection with his white listeners. At a party he draws a fan group to the piano after playing a ragtime tune, “They watched my fingers and asked what kind of music it was that I was playing, where I had learned it, and a host of other questions” (836). The guests are perplexed by the sounds that they had never heard before. Johnson is quickly made an important person at the party as he is able to connect with the guests through his piano playing. At one point the guests communicate to the host about their thoughts on the music that is provided, “the guest were enthusiastic in telling the host that he had furnished them the most unusual entertainment that they had ever enjoyed” …show more content…

One of the relationships that Washington creates is with Mrs. Ruffner. As her servant, he utilizes his skills as a hard worker in order to reach the Hampton Institute. Washington illustrates Mrs. Ruffner’s relationship with himself, “Mrs. Ruffner always encouraged and sympathized with me in all my efforts to get an education” (565). While Mrs. Ruffner supported Washington’s education, she was never as deeply impacted as the characters in Johnson’s narrative. Mrs. Ruffner never goes out of her way to help the process of an education take place like Johnson’s millionaire friend does. While Mrs. Ruffner provides support, she does not provide direct help to Washington. She also never speaks about the troubles of the African American with Washington as the millionaire friend does. While the millionaire friend gives a large sum of money in order for Johnson to continue to pursue his dreams, Mrs. Ruffner only continues to give Washington the typical wage until he leaves for Hampton. Similarly, Washington struggles to impact General Samuel C. Armstrong at the Hampton Institute. The General is more concerned with the overall wellbeing of the students in the institute than he is specifically with Washington. The only point where Armstrong specifically attends to Washington’s needs is when he reaches out to Mr. S. Griffitts Morgan to cover Washington’s tuition. However, due to the description

Show More
Related
642 Words | 3 Pages

The book clearly narrate how little educated, dancer, and well manner Washington transformed his life to the leader of America through life experience and

Read More
1407 Words | 6 Pages

His determination allowed him to work everyday after school including Saturday’s for 50 cents per hour. At Forbes typewriter, his duties consisted of emptying baskets, washing windows, and doing handyman work. His apprenticeship later allowed him to clean and repair typewriters in the shop. While working at Forbes Typewriter, Mr. Forbes gave Dr. Alexander time off so that he could participate in extracurricular activities such as basketball, track, football, and other activities. Inspired by his peers, he developed a sudden interest in higher education due to athletic scholarships.

Read More
817 Words | 4 Pages

George Washington did not have a terrible childhood, but still much is not

Read More
1220 Words | 5 Pages

Washington was a successful farmer in the South which served as a great example of how hard work can lead to success. The hard truth of the South was local governments controlled by white

Read More
1319 Words | 6 Pages

Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the key Founding Fathers of the United States as a renowned diplomat that helped build our country’s allyship with France and a civic activist for public institutions. While seen as the original ‘self made man’ of America and the root of the concept know as the ‘American Dream’, others have become critical of Franklin over time. Some believe that while Franklin had good intentions in creating public institutions, that they were primarily made for his own personal gain. Yet when one looks at the moral values of the club Franklin lead and his meticulous tracking of his ideas for individual improvement, it is clear that while Franklin’s scope of betterment may have started with just himself in mind, it

Read More
1596 Words | 7 Pages

Now should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities (Washington, pg 2, The Atlanta Exposition speech).” By saying this Washington means that in order for the African American race to succeed as free civilians they have to learn how to appreciate their background and use that to an advantage to succeed in the society. He states, “The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly. (Washington, pg 3, The Atlanta Exposition speech).” He also suggest for African Americans to take advantage of the number of opportunities presented to them in order to succeed in life.

Read More
918 Words | 4 Pages

The World of George Washington Plunkitt by William L. Riordon. It is a collections of talks and writing of Plunkitt detailing about his life, politics, and general knowledge of the public. Many reformers saw the organization of Tammany Hall as a corrupt malignancy that plagued the American government. But Plunkitt argues that his work was always practical, legal and influential and helped shape the democratic system for the better. And as for his fortune, he simply states, “I seen my opportunities and I took em.”

Read More
553 Words | 3 Pages

George Washington Buckner “Why should not the negroes be exalted and happy?”, a wise man once said. George Washington Buckner plays a very important role in African American history. His life spanned a special period of transition for Indiana’s African American equality. Many people have never heard of George Buckner but that does not make him any less important. George was born into slavery but soon made something of himself.

Read More
737 Words | 3 Pages

Black American History had a major role in the development of the present day United States. Slavery was the foundation of the Confederate states economic growth. This essay will focus on Booker T. Washington a man born in Virginia as a slave and with dedication earned a decent education and processed to do good deeds with it. As a slave he would package salt and work in mines and was allowed to walk to school during his free time. Booker T. Washington's accomplishments were founding Tuskegee University and being the first African American to dine in the White House and publish more than forty books.

Read More
1745 Words | 7 Pages

Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Prior to the riot, African Americans had listened to Washington’s advice. Washington believed that African Americans should be sublevel to whites and focus all their time working diligently and progressing in blue-collar society. This would allow whites to feel supreme, but also allow African Americans to make something of themselves and provide for their families. Washington wanted blacks to be educationally ready for the argument of equality.

Read More
846 Words | 4 Pages

Washington appears to make some compromises in his argument. His speech is actually called the "Atlanta Compromise." He says that "in no way have the value and manhood of the American Negro

Read More
1758 Words | 8 Pages

Understanding Washington’s background ties into the thesis because the person analyzing “The Atlanta Exposition” can understand what experiences he has gone through leading up to the speech to help the reader understand the stance and views he stated during the speech. Washington was born roughly around April 5, 1856 in Hale’s Ford,

Read More
1017 Words | 5 Pages

In the book of His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis, the author introduces Washington, the Father of the United States, in a fresh portrait focused on the characters of Washington. This book is an impressive biography of Washington's remarkable dedication to the United States history. According to the author, George Washington is an omnipresent figure as he was growing up, described as the man in the moon who was aloof and silent. This book focuses on Washington's wartime service which became some of his major contributions to the United States, rather than merely telling the true story of Washington, its main thesis is focusing on analyzing his contributions and how his governorship had affected the American history. Washington's life is divided into three areas in this book.

Read More
728 Words | 3 Pages

Majority of washington’s childhood was spent working. After the Civil war,washington's family moved to Malden, West Virginia. His mother saw his passion for education and bought him a book, where he taught himself how to read and

Read More
1465 Words | 6 Pages

When the narrator accompanies Sonny to the nightclub to listen to him play his music; Sonny’s music portrays his wisdom as he plays about his brother’s frustrations with the trials and sufferings they both endured. Sonny’s artful playing of the blues opens the narrator’s heart to listen genuinely. If one listens to what lies on the inside that is the key to finding oneself. Joseph Flibbert states in the article “Sonny’s Blues” Overview, “In the music he hears, he sees his mother’s face, and that of his little girl … The powerful incantations of Sonny’s art reaches his soul, and for the first time, he listens to the dark voice within”.

Read More

More about Mrs Ruffner's Influence On Washington

Related Topics

Open Document