Differing Visions: Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois's Fight for Equality

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Even after the abolishment of slavery, African - Americans fought for their equal rights and opportunities. When slavery ended radical discrimination has become big obstacle, only a few found the courage to speak out on their beliefs for a new change. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois both share a few commonalities; expressing strong opposition against segregation, and a massive amount of education. W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington were two very influential leaders in the black community during the late 19th century. They were both well-educated African- Americans; who wanted justice and equal rights for African – Americans. But they both had different points of view on economic and improvement of social standing for blacks. …show more content…

Washington as a former slave himself, he knew that there no way in the near that the American government would grant equality for African-Americans, and believed that blacks shouldn’t push to attain equal civil and political rights with Americans. He thought that by Africans not demanding for equal rights it was the best method to improve their quality of their character and economic skill. Washington knew that eventually African – Americans would earn love and respect from the whites, and that political and civil rights would increase as a matter of course. Washington’s philosophy concerning the role of African Americans was tempered by his belief in “accommodation”. He tries to believe that if African American ignored, and concentrated on their economic future that political rights would follow. He also believed that there shouldn’t be any shame in the manual labor. Unlike Du Bois, he believed that blacks shouldn’t limit themselves to a vocational labor, but to educate themselves; in order to be recognized as citizens with equal rights. He rejected the idea of “accommodation” and suggested that throughout voting right African- Americans would be able to achieve social and economic equality. Du Bois’s strategy was more aggressive compared with Washington philosophy. Du Bois proposed a strategy of pursuing throughout a higher education in order to be able to gain first class citizenship for the African- American race. Just like Washington, Du Bois also gave …show more content…

Washington had different points of finding a way to gain equal rights for the African- Americans; both dedicated their lives to the same goals. However, Du Bois had more reasonable reasons in his proposition for the advancement of African- Americans. He aimed for success, the success that African Americans deserved and no longer accepted being treated lower. Du Bois stated that intelligence is the key, no matter what “Education must not simply teach work – it must teach life” (the talented tenth). Both backgrounds strongly influenced the way they attacked the “Negro

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