Many affiliates of minority groups disagreed upon how to deal with the injustice of racial segregation and how to progress economically and socially as a culture during the era of Jim Crow. Two famous opponents that deviated in their methods of social and economic progression were, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. Washington suggested that African-Americans should help themselves become equal by becoming educated instead of sulking about discrimination; he believed they should rise above prejudice. His adversary completely conflicted Washington’s stance, he believed that Washington’s method led whites to believe the oppression was permanent. DuBois once stated, “but they are absolutely certain that the way for a people to gain their
When it all comes down to it, one of the greatest intellectual battles U.S. history was the legendary disagreement between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. This intellectual debate sparked the interest of the Northerners as well as the racist whites that occupied the south. This debate was simply about how the blacks, who just gained freedom from slavery, should exist in America with the white majority. Even though Washington and DuBois stood on opposite sides of the fence they both agreed on one thing, that it was a time for a change in the treatment of African Americans. I chose his topic to write about because I strongly agree with both of the men’s ideas but there is some things about their views that I don’t agree with. Their ideas and views are the things that will be addressed in this essay.
These two thinkers were some of the most influential educators, authors, and orators of the American 19th century, and were also frequent critics of the other's methods and ideas. This was due to a sharp disagreement on the ‘right’ strategy for improving the condition of the black community. While they might not have agreed on the means, both of these remarkable men at least shared that common goal, and their efforts are best demonstrated by looking to the long-standing success of institutions they founded and worked for ( the Tuskegee Institute and Atlanta University respectively). That being said, the diametrically opposed philosophies they supported still stand today, and each 'camp' can be identified in many contemporary debates over discrimination, society, and how to end racial and class injustice. Born a slave in the mid 1850s, Booker T. Washington spent his childhood on a Virginian plantation before gaining his freedom after the civil war.
Comparing W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. W. E. B. -. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington had very different views about their culture and country. Du Bois, born in the North and studying in Europe, was fascinated with the idea of Socialism and Communism. Booker T. Washington, on the other hand, was born in the South, and like so many others, had a Black mother and a White father.
Beginning in the 1890’s Jim Crow laws or also known as the color-line was put into effect in the Southern states. These laws restricted the rights of blacks and segregation from the white population. These laws were put into effect as partially a result of the reaction of the whites to blacks not submitting to segregation of railroads, streetcars, and other public facilities. African Americans Ids B. Wells, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B Dubois had differing opinions on the color-line. Wells and Dubois felt the color-line created prejudice toward blacks and that the black population could not become equal with the whites under such conditions. On the other hand, Booker T. Washington thought the laws were a good compromise between the parties at the time.
Women should not have the chance for an academic education. They should be trained to cook, clean, and take care of children. What better way would a woman help society? Would she help her neighbor more by teaching them mathematics they will never use or by helping their neighbor raise children? This is similar to what Booker T. Washington claimed about African Americans. He stated that the African Americans should attend vocational schools rather than receive an academic education so they could better further social change. W.E.B DuBois had a different approach to further social change by stating that some African Americans should go to academic schools, while others had trades, and some were considered fools who cannot learn. I believe that all children have the ability to learn whether they are black, brown, honeysuckle, or blue. Children all learn in different ways and in order to teach all children we must discover what way each child learns best. John and Evelyn Dewey demonstrate learn by doing and say that is the best approach to learning. I believe they are correct in some aspects. I will attempt to explain my philosophy on the best way to teach all children regardless of race or gender.
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.
After slavery became abolished, segregation became more prevalent in society as time went by. The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson even cemented the fact that segregation was constitutional, as long as the races stayed separate but equal. With more attention focused on race, many people, muckrakers and educated African Americans alike, began to draw attention towards the many injustices the common people have faced. Two leaders in the movement to bring more respect towards black people arose: Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois. These two leaders had differing strategies; Washington believed in accepting a lower position in society until given opportunities eventually allowed black people to stand on equal footing. Du Bois, however,
Washington and Du Bois had similar purpose, but each took a different approach to reach their goal. Washington’s writing shows that he believes an education is important, but emphasizes to have a skilled trade job gives the African American “a chance in the commercial world” (691). His writing is relaxed and tells a story using everyday speech. His ideas for creating equal rights could be metaphorically compared to his writing. Du Bois, who was highly educated, sophisticatedly writes to persuade his audience that, if change is desired for the blinded, hurting African race, they shall implement steps and demand rights, such as voting. When evaluating Washington to make his opinion consistent, Du Bois says blacks should “analyze the problem on their back” (889). He believes it is their duty to themselves to stand equality.
and challenges to African Americans from 1910 until about 1930. Du Bois felt that Americans
W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were two very influential leaders in the black community during the late 19th century, early 20th century. However, they both had different views on improvement of social and economic standing for blacks. Booker T. Washington, an ex-slave, put into practice his educational ideas at Tuskegee, which opened in 1881. Washington stressed patience, manual training, and hard work. He believed that blacks should go to school, learn skills, and work their way up the ladder. Washington also urged blacks to accept racial discrimination for the time being, and once they worked their way up, they would gain the respect of whites and be fully accepted as citizens. W.E.B. Du Bois on the other hand, wanted a more aggressive strategy. He studied at Fisk University in Tennessee and the University of Berlin before he went on to study at Harvard. He then took a low paying research job at the University of Pennsylvania, using a new discipline of sociology which emphasized factual observation in the field to study the condition of blacks. The first study of the effect of urban life on blacks, it cited a wealth of statistics, all suggesting that crime in the ward stemmed not from inborn degeneracy but from the environment in which blacks lived. Change the environment, and people would change too; education was a good way to go about it. The different strategies offered by W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington in dealing with the problems of poverty and discrimination faced by Black Americans were education, developing economic skills, and insisting on things continually such as the right to vote. ...
“It should come as no surprise that Washington’s historical conflict culminated as a struggle between him and DuBois” (Gibson III 66). To say the least, both men were very active in the upbringing of African-Americans, but their differences in displaying out the solution was what brought them apart. Washington wanted the education system to enforce industrial teachings that started at lower economic power, while DuBois had more abstract ideas of equality and voting for African-Americans. Washington was conservative in the matter of African-American inclusion into society, hoping that given enough time and progress, people would learn to accept them, rather than fight for social power like what DuBois stood for. Despite Washington’s program that appealed to White-Americans, he was involved in politics and spoke about the disfranchisement of African-Americans. His idea of easing tensions with the superior gathered him more publicity, as to DuBois’s plan of protesting. As a result, DuBois’s idea became more prominent as it branches into what we know now as the civil rights movement. Historically, Washington and DuBois has made a name for themselves, through their intentions for the good will of African-Americans, and that is something that will always hold true in these two notorious
When talking about the history of African-Americans at the turn of the twentieth century, two notable names cannot be left out; Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois. They were both African-American leaders in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, fighting for social justice, education and civil rights for slaves, and both stressed education. This was a time when blacks were segregated and discriminated against. Both these men had a vision to free blacks from this oppression. While they came from different backgrounds, Washington coming from a plantation in Virginia where he was a slave, and Du Bois coming from a free home in Massachusetts, they both experienced the heavy oppression blacks were under in this Post-Civil War society. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois were both pioneers in striving to obtain equality for blacks, yet their ways of achieving this equality were completely different. W.E.B Du Bois is the more celebrated figure today since he had the better method because it didn’t give the whites any power, and his method was intended to achieve a more noble goal than Washington’s.
Washington 's programme naturally takes an economic cast” (Du Bois). Du Bois believed that Washington’s theory was a gospel of Work and Money that ultimately overshadowed the higher aims of life” Later he makes another statement so powerful that should have made all African Americans want to stand up and fight for a better social status and rights for both the South and North. He goes on stating “The growing spirit of kindliness and reconciliation between the North and South after the frightful differences of a generation ago ought to be a source of deep congratulation to all, and especially to those whose mistreatment caused the war; but if that reconciliation is to be marked by the industrial slavery and civic death of those same black men, with permanent legislation into a position of inferiority, then those black men, if they are really men, are called upon by every consideration of patriotism and loyalty to oppose such a course by all civilized methods, even though such opposition involves disagreement with Mr. Booker T. Washington.” (Du
Washington and W.E.B DuBois had strengths that contributed to the success of the African American race. For example, DuBois was active in behalf of pan-Africanism and concerned with the conditions of people of African descent wherever they lived ( 2009 - 2016 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). DuBois was a racial activist and was a member of the socialist party which gave him insight on the issues going in the black community as well as leadership skills. DuBois founded the NAACP, which is still recognized today as an African-American civil rights organization for the advancement of colored people. A major strength of DuBois is his experience with racism.
Du Bois addresses the recent actions of the Blacks trying to become a member of society as well as Booker T. Washington 's response to it. Washington 's way of life was the answer for many but for others, such as Du Bois, it was viewed as a scapegoat and a sort of surrender of Blacks. After hearing Washington 's proposal, Du Bois had a few comments of his own and soon after gave it the nick name The "Atlanta Compromise". He believed that “Washington 's counsels of submission overlooked certain elements of true manhood, and that his educational programme was unnecessarily narrow” (p.g. 700, Du Bois). Where Washington wants Blacks to take a step back from wanting to gain political power with a say in matters, Du Bois wants Blacks to step up and be seen. The use of this compromise was frowned upon by Du Bois, a scholarly man that held many degrees. He was one who believed the path was paved by developmental education. He proposed the idea of his people going to school to learn a variety of academics instead of just one trade. This way they would be just as knowledgeable as whites and still be able to serve their community equally. Du Bois argues that Washington merely offered a temporary solution to a problem that need much more thought behind