Discuss Race Relations in America during Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidency

On 16 October 1901, shortly after moving into the White House, Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington, President of the Tuskegee Institute, to dine with him and his family, and provoked an outpouring of condemnation from southern politicians and press. This reaction affected subsequent White House practice, and no other African American was invited to dinner for almost thirty years. That dinner and subsequent racial issues affecting Roosevelt during his presidency are recorded in Edmund Morris’, Theodore Rex. Your assignment is to read Chapters 1-10, 16-18, and 28-31 of that book. Then, write an essay about race relations in America of that period (1900 -1908) that incorporates the concepts of Social Darwinism, “survival of the fittest’, integration, and segregation involving both African Americans and Japanese Americans. You must define Social Darwinism, “survival of the fittest’, integration, and segregation and identify the ideological positions of Roosevelt and Washington regarding segregation and integration. Your essay must include both Northern and Southern views; identified in the book, of the dinner and what effects it would have on race relations of the era. You must also include your opinion of which policy; integration or segregation, would work best in the society of that period. The essay must be at least five (5) paragraphs, include definitions of the four terms, describe the ideological positions of Roosevelt and Washington, and include your opinion of the “best” or “only” policy and why your policy; either integration of segregation, would be the better policy. The essay is due Friday, Oct. 6th. theodore rex by edmund morris