Booker T. Washington And W. E. B. Du Bois

The time period of 1877 to 1915 was a period in history when the people of the Black race were being granted a free status, but equality, on the other hand, was not an option to some higher white officials. During this time period, many leaders started to fight for what they believed in by appealing to the white governing body for social equality. Two of the leaders that came out of that uproar were the well-known Black equality activists of that time, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Both of these leaders ultimately had the same goal, however, the paths that they took to achieve

The debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois turned out to be one of the greatest intellectual as well as inspiring battles in our United States history. This great debate sparked the interest of African Americans and whites throughout the entire country. Both men had distinct views on how blacks should go about progressing politically, socially, as well as financially here in the United States. Both Du Bois and Washington wanted African-Americans to have the same rights as white Americans; But Du Bois encouraged African-Americans to demand equal rights, while Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop

Booker T. Washington believed that blacks should not push to attain equal civil and political rights with whites. That it was best to concentrate on improving their economic skills and the quality of their character. The burden of improvement resting squarely on the shoulders of the black man. Eventually they would earn the respect and love of the white man, and civil and political rights would be accrued as a matter of course. This was a very non-threatening and popular idea with a lot of whites.

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

Furthermore, Booker T. Washington did not share strategies with Du Bois on one side, and the strategies of W. E. B. Du Bois did not share with Washington. Booker mostly focused on education and wanted African Americans to fight for what they’re worth, to work hard and become someone important in the community. On the other hand, Washington fought for equality. He wanted the White Americans to respect the blacks. His point view was that the community should be led by the most talented. Basically, he wanted blacks and

W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T Washington had very different views about their culture and country. Du Bois, being 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. Thus being born half-white, his views and ideas were sometimes not in the best interest of his people.

W. E. B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington were both highly intelligent African American men who wrote about the disparities between the lives of whites and blacks in the United States during the nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries. Each man saw the way in which his fellow African Americans were being treated by the white majority and used their intelligence and persuasive skills to bring attention to this very serious issue. Both men fought for equality through nonviolent protest and the application of logical argument and reasoning in order to better their lives and those of their social and ethnic brothers. Despite their shared goal of racial and sociological equality, the two men had very different ideas about how equality would be achieved and about what the African American community should or ought to expect in terms of actually obtaining that equality.

Booker T. Washington was known as the premier of black activist. His theory for the African American progression or “racial uplift” was that African American’s would remain without objections and silence themselves regarding the issues of disenfranchisement and social segregation if whites supported the black progression in education, economics, and agriculture.

The writing "Of Booker T. Washington and Others" highlighted the views W. E. B. Du Bois' and Booker T. Washington had for Black

Washington was the son of a white father and a black slave mother. He was the founder a Tuskegee Institute, a popular school for black Americans. Washington used the term “cast your buckets down” that meant blacks should understand their situation in America and find opportunities in them. Washington said that the attainment of civil rights and equality would be as a result of a severe and constant struggle. He believed that African-Americans excelled at manual labor and should use these skills to find a place in the commercial world and earn money (Washington 1895). He emphasized that no race that had contributed to the economy of the world had ever been alienated, and the atrocities in the South States would come to an end with the contribution of the black people to the commercial markets. The reason for his standpoint is because he believed getting money was more important than being allowed to spend it in some

Booker T. Washington began life born into slavery on a Virginia plantation. As a young slave, Washington managed school and the task of slave work. He is well-known for being an author and his promotion of education and economics. On top of this however, he is known for his passive approach to the mistreatment of African Americans. On the other hand, W.E.B Du Bois, like Booker T. Washington, was known as an author and social activist. W.E.B’s father passed away early in Du Bois’ life, so he was socialized into an extended family that thoroughly impacted who he grew up to be. He studied at Harvard University and also maintained a teaching career. After teaching, he decided to work full time towards African American social activism. His viewpoint on the

If your rights were taken from you and you were treated unfairly how would you deal with it? in a world where you meant nothing to white Americans who were the majority, that can be a very tough decision because your actions can either make things better, or it can make what was already bad a whole lot worse. In this case, however, you can take things in two directions; you can either do what Booker T. Washington did and “cast down your bucket where you are” or in other words be nice to everyone because he believed any other way would have scared white people, or you can be like W.E.B Dubois, whom other than just throwing shade at Washington most of the time (hence the title) wanted to fight back and retaliate disregarding the consequences. As you can clearly see, Washington and Dubois had very contrasting views and ideas on how to attain racial equality. They both are similar in the fact that they both wanted equality for African Americans, however Booker t. Washington had a peaceful and passive approach whereas W.E.B Dubois had a very aggressive approach.

Two famous men in African American history with one goal but different actions. W.E.B Du Bois was a black man who believed that freedom and equality was a born privilege, something that all people were entitled to. Booker T Washington was a black man who believed that rights were to be earned through hard work, labor, and the rule of the white race. Although they saw the world differently, they wanted equality for the blacks of America, no matter the cost.

In today’s world we still don’t have as many rights as we would like, although compared to back in the 1900s it is a whole new world. Equality was a big issue for both race, gender, and even social status. Some people just let this discrimination happen, and other people such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois actively try to stop all this hate and try to achieve equality for themselves and all the others being oppressed. Booker T. was born a slave, and because of this he believed that fighting for your rights would only lead to more anti-black violence such as lynching. He made the Atlanta Compromise speech that made him famous. He still wanted to end the discrimination but it would have to happen over time. Then Du Bois was a man who thought color discrimination was unacceptable, and wrote many articles and a book called The Souls of Black Folks that brought Du Bois to attention. Even though there were many other people trying to help fight this discrimination, Booker T. and Du Bois were two types of people who were famously known for their contribution. They both had a lot in common, but many differences in fighting for freedom.

W.E.B. Du Bois was born 1868 in Massachusetts. In 1888, he graduated from Fisk University and later he became the first African American to get a history Ph.D. from Harvard. Du Bois then taught sociology at Atlanta University. He “hoped that social science could help eliminate segregation, but he eventually came to the conclusion that the only effective strategy against racism was agitation” (“W.E.B. DU BOIS.”). Therefore, he regularly criticized Booker T. Washington’s beliefs. Du Bois believed that African Americans should demand complete equality and not just for vocational education. In addition, he thought voting was not something that had to be earned (Lapsansky-Werner 522-523).