Similarities Between Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

Robinson Page 10 Assignment 6-Essay on Social and Political Similarities

Invisible Man parallels beliefs from both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois. Washington believed African Americans should have focused on their social issues and accept the discrimination. DuBois believed “Washington’s strategy would serve only to perpetuate white oppression.” DuBois urged political action (help find NAACP) and socially started a group called “the Talented Tenth.” These two men beliefs came together in this book.

In fact, it has been said by W. E. B. DuBois, “Sometime, somewhere, men will judge men by their souls and not by their skin.” This statement is similar to a section from the book, Invisible Man; the character Brother Jack said, “Why do you fellows always talk in terms of race!” The meaning or

interpretation of these two quotes indicate that no matter what color the skin tone of an individual, it should not determine the way one judges that person. The individual’s personality and character are the only things that truly matters.
Moreover, the narrator of Invisible Man shared with the readers that “…I was told that since I was to be there anyway I might as well take part in the battle royal to be fought by some of my school mates as part of the entertainment.” The fighting among the African American men from the book against one another did not seem to aid in the good of the society around them. DuBois believed that, “Ignorance is a cure for nothing.” The similarity between the two quotes is the ignorance that the men have fighting against each other just because another individual told them so.
It was said by DuBois, “Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.” And in chapter 25 of Invisible Man Ralph Ellison made this statement true. “…the violence was pointless...” The people were destroying everything, following someone as

Robinson Page 11 Assignment 6-Essay on Social and Political Similarities
their leader, because he sounded convincing. The community from the book was destroying their homes because they were being ignorant.
Booker T. Washington once said, “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” This quote corresponds to a section of the book from chapter 16, “For I couldn’t remember the correct words and phrases… I had to fall back upon tradition and since it was a political meeting…the man said, ‘I thought it was quite effective.’ ” In this section the narrator had forgotten what he was taught, so he did something different and the crowd and a few of his colleagues enjoyed his speech.
Washington has said, “We do not want the men of another color for our brothers-in-law, but we do want them for our brothers.” This statement resembles a group in the book.

This group is called The Brotherhood, they may not be actual blood brothers but they considered each other as brothers. The Brotherhood consisted of African Americans and white men who “are working together for a better world for all people...” They together are helping people who “…have been dispossessed of their heritage…”

The narrator’s grandfather last words was, “…keep up the good fight…our life is a war…I have been a traitor…a spy…Live with your head in the lion’s mouth…overcome ‘em with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction….” This saying was very similar to Booker T. Washington’s messages telling the African Americans to manipulate the power of the southern social structure. “Washington would have been free to maneuver and continue his manipulation of Southern whites as best he could.”

In the first chapter the narrator was giving a speech and his speech was similar to Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise.” In which Washington wanted for the black to focus

on
Robinson Page 12 Assignment 6-Essay on Social and Political Similarities
social responsibility. The narrator had gotten to the end of his speech and said, “Social equality.” Which was an accident, and the white men did not like that the narrator said “equality” but he corrected his self and said “responsibility.” At this time the narrator was probably thinking about DuBois wanting the blacks to focus on social equality instead of the responsibility.
Washington spoke on day and said, “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the finger, yet one as the hand in all things essential mutual progress.” This quote is similar to what the narrator said in the book, Invisible Man, “…They were told they were free, united with others of our country in everything pertaining to the common good, and, in everything social, separate like the fingers of the hand.” These two quotes are saying that we can do all the same things socially, but in different places.
DuBois believed that blacks should obtain a liberal arts education equal to that of whites’ because if they were educated in skills and trade they would become second-class citizens. Like so, the narrator was educated the way Washington wanted the African Americans to be educated. He was given the opportunity and took it, he went to a college whom the Founder was Booker T. Washington.
In conclusion, Washington and DuBois had their differences but still was in common with this book, Invisible Man.