Booker T. Washington entered the scene shortly after the Atlanta Riot, giving a speech at the Cotton States and International Exhibition. Through this speech many could see Washington’s beliefs for fighting white supremacy. One of the more evident beliefs of Washington was the idea of integrating with the whites. He stated during the speech, “the importance of cultivating friendly relations with the Southern white man” (Major Problems 160). This was somewhat an unusual stance to take at this time, because the south was segregated. On top of this much of the black community was irritated from this statement, because of the violence the white enforced on the black community. Further on in his speech he also declared another unparticular method for a black leader. He issues the belief that “no race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as writing a poem” (Tuck 103). This seemed outrageous to many, because it appeared as if he was disrespecting his own race. Contextually he was saying to prosper, blacks must work under whites first, before going on to jobs of their own. This idea of working up the totem pole seemed eerie to must blacks, because instead of participating in practices of glory, they would be forced to do hard work that no one else wanted once again. And while many blacks might have felt this way, Washington tells the mostly white crowd, to trust the blacks for they have the, “devotion that no foreigner can match” (Tuck 103). As it states in Tuck after the speech most of the crowd was delirious; whites were happy, and blacks were confused. At the same time Washington thought it was practical for good reason. At this time the majority of blacks were rarely able to find land to farm, and as time passed more and more blacks were running into debt (Tuck 106). So he believed suck it up, and take the dirty jobs. If you have