Final answer:
Governor Bullock briefly introduced Booker T. Washington at the Atlanta Exposition, who aimed to foster racial harmony in his speech. Douglass highlights Auld's dialogue to emphasize the importance of literacy. Dialogues in literature and narratives enable a deeper understanding of characters and situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his "first discourse" during the Atlanta Exposition, as mentioned earlier, Governor Bullock spoke briefly before introducing Booker T. Washington as a representative of African American enterprise and civilization. Washington's focus in his ensuing address was to foster a spirit of friendship and cooperation between the races. While the importance of the dialogue in literature is often to set the scene and establish conflict within the narrative, in this historical context, it serves a grander purpose. Washington aimed to use this platform to pave a path toward racial harmony and progress through his words and demeanor in representing the African American community.
Douglass provides extensive details of Auld's dialogue within his narrative to underscore the vital role that literacy played in his journey toward freedom. Furthermore, the use of dialogue in writing, whether in history or fiction, allows readers to grasp the essence of the depicted situations and characters, enhancing the overall narrative and its intended message, as seen in both Washington's and Douglass' accounts.