Booker T Washington Influence

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Booker T. Washington didn’t know many details about his birth; only that he was born on a plantation in Franklin County, Virginia in 1858 or 1859. Although he knew very little about his mother’s relatives, he knew even less about his father. The living conditions of Washington, his mother and siblings were beyond imperfect lacking windows, a suitable door, flooring and a bed. His shoes were wooden, and his clothes were made of a course fiber that severely aggravated his skin. He had very poor eating habits, and his childhood consisted of all work and no play or education.
Slaves throughout the South were able to stay abreast of current national affairs through late night chats and the informant who hung around the local post-office. …show more content…

E. B. Du Bois indicated that the dominant influence that Booker T. Washington had on Blacks came at a time when there was less attention on the memories of war and more focus towards the idea of commercialism. Du Bois stated that Washington’s plan of industrial education was not original, that he simply added great enthusiasm as a way to gain an interest of the people. He recognized Washington’s achievements in the South as being the founder of Tuskegee Institute and the most notable achievement in favor of African Americans, his “Atlanta Compromise” speech. As a result, radicals accepted this as an act of surrender to Whites, and conservatives received this as a mutual understanding. Washington then gained attention in the North by grasping the concept that now dominated that area, which was maximizing profits and material …show more content…

Considering the time, I would have been a Du Bois supporter. Washington’s passive patient approach wouldn’t have satisfied me. Blacks had been oppressed for quite some time and wanted to see change immediately. I’m sure the last thing they wanted to hear was that they should continue doing manual labor, being submissive to Whites, and wait for change. However, Washington was very clever in his “Atlanta Compromise” speech to compare the thirsty sailors in the tale of a lost ship to Blacks as a way of persuading them to better their conditions. Quite the opposite, Du Bois’s character and approach was more in line with my personality. I am a person who likes to see quick results or at least some signs of change along the way to completing my goal. Again, Blacks had been patient long enough. It was time to fight back, and the way to do it was through higher education and the demand for equal rights. Du Bois said it best, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color

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