Fannie Lou Hamer describes everything that she personally has gone through to simply be able to vote. At that time everything was still being done to suppress an African American from using their right to vote even thought they were legally given the right. They had to risk their lives to try to do so. What stands out to me is that she never gave up even after almost being beat to death. She was such a brave woman and this is the kind of bravery it took to change what was happening in America at that time.

Here DuBois obviously disagrees with Washington on his thoughts of submission. He is stating that with no right to vote or participate in politics and no chance to get a proper education there is no way that African Americans can ever move forward.

By saying "the opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend a dollar in an opera-house", he is pointing out that it is okay for progress to be slow and that making small steps now could mean larger ones in the future. The wisest of his race know that by accepting small changes now could benefit them and help them move further in the future with their rights rather than asking for everything all at once.

Washington is asking for a chance to move forward with the way things are. He is wanting African Americans to have a chance to move forward with their progress. He is stating all of the good that could come out of allowing his people to get a better education, be able to farm and run factories. He is also sure to mention that all of this progress would happen with law-abiding citizens and those that show no resentment for the way they have been treated in the past.