Henry O. Tanner Symbol Analysis

Washington uses the black American painter, Henry O. Tanner, as a symbol of the racial equality that can be found in a true meritocracy. Tanner’s work was famous in art circles for its excellence and high quality. To Washington, Tanner’s work erases any sort of racial divide because both black and white art critics could see its value. Tanner himself then symbolizes Washington’s meritocracy, or the idea that all Americans, regardless of race or class, can find success if they work hard enough. Washington believed that merit is the ultimate social standard of value, not race or class as some of his contemporaries suggested, and Henry O. Tanner’s art serves as a symbol of the importance of merit in Washington’s America.