The Atlantic Exposition Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Analysis Essay on the Atlantic Exposition Address In a recent presidential campaign, candidate Hillary Clinton states that, “If [if] we stand with each other now, we can build a future where no one is left out or left behind…” Her speech highlights the significance of racial harmony, which coincides with the idea of Book T. Washington, a firm advocate for racial equality in the 19th century. After the issue of Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans’ rights and responsibilities as free citizens received increasing scrutiny. In his speech “The Atlantic Exposition”, Washington employs vivid analogy, pathos, and parallelism in his speech, persuading African Americans in the south to explicitly address pragmatism and accommodation rather

Washington establishes a hypothetical situation in which “a ship lost at sea for many days” without drinking water resorts to “a friendly vessel,” yet is replied to with a straightforward message: “cast down your bucket where you are.” After numerous fruitless struggles, the “distressed vessel…cast[s] down the bucket… and came [comes] up full of fresh, sparkling water” (Washington 418). In this analogy, distressed vessel refers to the black community, and the bucket represents available opportunities generated by the cooperation between two races. Putting emphasis on “cast[ing] down the bucket,” Washington encourages black people, particularly in the south, to champion friendly relations with white people, thus possibly seeing the fruits of their labor (418). Serving as a bridge between familiar and literal concepts, the “bucket” analogy transfers meaning from what is easily understood to notions that are more difficult to grasp. With the aid of analogy, the black audience can foresee bright prospects where plenty of commercial opportunities, as a result of racial harmony, are available. Proximity to real-life experience allows African Americans to understand their predicament more thoroughly. As soon as black people are informed of what should be done, they are more motivated to take actions, resorting

Washington alters his tone regarding different groups of subject people. Addressing the African Americans, he forcefully contends that only by “making friends…of all races by whom we are surrounded could we better our situation” (418). His use of the pronouns “our” and “we” throughout the piece conveys a strong sense of solidarity (Washington 418). Washington points out that black people are inherently connected and share responsibilities to “better our [their] situation”(418). In this way, he narrows down the distance between the audience and himself, so that a more intimate emotional connection is built, readily provoking empathy from audiences. Besides, he appeals to black people that his consideration on racial harmony is based on their collective interests to “better our [their] situation”(Washington 418). Instigated by Washington’s sincerity, the black audience can better empathize with him and feel obliged to follow his suggestions. Addressing white people, he employs a rather pledging tone, “casting down your bucket… you… will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law-abiding, and unresentful people,” indicating that black people are willing and loyal to serve the white (Washington 419). By dwarfing his race in front of the white community, Washington intentionally bolsters the self-esteem of white people, thus appealing to their belief in