Booker T. Washington was born as a slave in Virginia in 1856. Washington was raised in a poor household and he struggled to obtain an education. At the age of 16 Washington left home to attend the Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute in Virginia where he worked to support himself as a janitor until he received a scholarship. The headmaster mentored Washington while he attended school there and he graduated in 1875. In 1881, Alabama legislature allocated funds to create a school for African American students, Washington founded the college which is now known as Tuskegee University. Washington was an influential leader and white business and political leaders were reassured by his message that black people themselves were responsible for …show more content…
He spoke out against the teachings of Booker T. Washington.
Washington and Dubois both emerged as powerful leaders in black communities. Although they did not share the same philosophy’s they share the common goal to uplift the African American communities. Both worked tirelessly to advocate against lynching and mob violence. Both men were both key figures during the early 1900s and both encouraged progress within their communities.
Washington and Dubois were raised in two different settings. Washington a Southern slave and Dubois was raised in the North and free. Washington had to struggle to obtain his education where DuBois quickly obtained his from an early age. Washington believed that blacks should not disrupt the system. Washington’s teaching was not threatening, which he gained support from northern and southern whites. He believed economic acceptance would lead to political and social acceptance . Dubois, on the other hand, was more outspoken, he felt that blacks deserved the same rights as whites. Dubois believed education would confront racial problems, and it would create wise men . Furthermore, he believed that 10% of the African American population needed to be the best educated to promote progress and advancement. DuBois criticized Washington for failing to stand up for political and civil rights and higher education for black Americans . Ultimately both believed in their cause and both were influential leaders during a time that needed strong leaders
In conclusion, the debate between W.E.B Dubois and Washington was nothing short of remarkable and genius. Although both men had two separate ways about doing things they both shared the same common goal, which was bettering the lives of African Americans. In my opinion, W.E.B Dubois plan to go strongly for African American rights and equality was the better strategy. Not only did he help bring us together but he gave blacks a sense of self confidence that they didn’t possess before. For once blacks believed not only can you be as good as the white man but better. While some may agree that Mr. Washington’s plan to endure the second citizenship title was only degrading and keeping the black man down. Although Washington had honorable goals Dubois gave the people a strong sense of empowerment and worthiness that has helped the black race grows into what it is today.
washington knew that blacks would never be equal to the whites. DuBois wrote a book called, "We want to be Americans, full-fledged Americans, with all the rights of American citizens." DuBois also criticized Washington's Tuskegee approach as an attempt "to educate black boys and girls simply as servants and underlings." DuBois had become the leading black figure in the United States. Dubois encouraged African-Americans to work hard, regardless of their careers. 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. Washington, on the other hand, often ignored discrimination. He believed that it was important for blacks to develop good relationships with whites. He was afraid that blacks who demanded equal rights would create ill will between themselves and white Americans. Washington said to an all white audience that "In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." That quote meant that blacks and whites can all do the same things. In conclusion, Booker T. Washington focused on having education for real life jobs and not asking for equality from the
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.
He claims that all parties involved were silenced and began to practice Washington’s teachings. DuBois sees Washington as a paradox that takes away the rights of the African American yet advocates for them to do better. He believes Washington is shifting the weight of the problem onto the African American people rather than everyone as a whole. 2.
W.E.B. Dubois was the rivaling civil rights leader during the early 20th century. W.E.B. Dubois believed that through political action and education, full-citizenship of African Americans in America would be achieved. At first, he agreed with Booker T. Washington’s teachings, however through time Dubois realized flaws within Washington’s ideas. Dubois, in “Soul of Black Folk” writes, “The black men of America have a duty to perform, a duty stern and delicate, -- a forward movement to oppose a part of the work of their greatest leader. So far as Mr. Washington peaches
Two men with the same goals but different views on how they should be achieved is exactly how Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois’ controversy should be described as. Their debate revolved around the idea of abolishing slavery as well as paving the way for the modernized Civil Rights Act in America to take place. Washington and DuBois were born in the same time period with the same intentions, yet had different methods of approaching how to do them. Both of their ideas were focused on how America could be best improved for the future in political, social and educational ways. Booker T. Washington’s perspective and ideologies were better than DuBois’ for
W.E.B. DuBois was a very strong advocate for black people being treated equally to white people. He co-founded the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Which was a very important part of the civil rights movement. The NAACP was “created to work for the abolition of segregation and discrimination in housing, education, employment, voting, and transportation; to oppose racism; and to ensure African Americans their constitutional rights”. He also created a book called “The Souls Of Black Folk” Which made him more popular, with the main Idea of the book being that the “central problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line.” He was a man who fought for equality, where Booker T. Washington, on the other hand, did not. Booker T. Washington thought that black people should in fact have different rights then white people, and that instead of fighting it, black people should just accept it, and focus on economic self-improvement. He also believed that black people should not fight for equal rights, because it would lead to more anti-black violence, such as lynching which is the act of killing someone, most commonly by hanging, by mob action and without legal authority. By these facts you can tell that Washington and
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.
Over 100 years ago W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington began a debate over strategies for black social and economic progress, which is still prevalent today. Booker T. Washington believed that the role of education for African Americans should be an industrial one, where as W.E.B DuBois wanted African Americans to become engaged in a Liberal Arts education.
Dubois writings, unlike Washington’s writings survived aging and sounds modern. Both Dubois and Washington, however, wanted the best for their people, both were sincerely engaged in racial uplift, and therefore in the end neither was “right” or “wrong.” Indeed, Washington’s ideas fitted the era that he lived in and Dubois ideas the future.
Washington and DuBois speeches are both centered around discrimination and civil rights of the African American population. In the beginning of both speeches, DuBois and Washington make statements on the rights of African Americans, while comparing their rights to the white population. In DuBois speech, he says, “Fear to let black men even try to rise lest they become the equals of the white. And this is the land that professes to follow Jesus Christ. The blasphemy of such a course is only matched by its cowardice.” In comparison, Washington states, “I pledge that in your effort to work out the great and intricate problem which God has laid at the doors of the South, you shall have at all times the patient, sympathetic help of my race; only let this
Booker T. Washington was the first leader of the civil rights’ movement. All African Americans looked to him for advice on how to overcome their current situation. However, as time moved on, W.E.B. DuBois became his opponent. A person would think that Washington and DuBois would have worked together for a common goal, but this was not the case. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois both strived for equality and justice for the African American race. However, these two had very different ways to achieve this goal. While Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois appeared quite similar in terms of their titles as civil rights’ activists as well as professors, they differed in that they had very different backgrounds, which greatly affected their perspectives on education and racism.
Booker T. Washington was born in 1856 as a slave on a Virginia plantation owned by James Burroughs. His mother was a slave, and his father was an unknown, white male. His original name was Booker Taliaferro; he took the last name Washington after his stepfather, Washington Ferguson. He was nine years old when he was emancipated, and he immediately took a job at a coalmine to help support his family. Around this time, his mother, who was illiterate herself, bought him a spelling book and encouraged Washington to study. He displayed great intelligence, and soon impressed the owner of the coalmine’s wife. She gave Washington a job as a houseboy, and helped further his education.
Have you ever been asked the question: If you could pick a different era to live in what era would you choose? Everyone immediately responds with the era they would have liked to be apart of, only thinking about the good things about that era. No one puts into mind the problems that were apart of each era or the struggles people faced in these eras. Booker T. Washington was born in Hales Ford, Virginia on April 5th, 1856. His mother was a slave so he was born into slavery. At the age of 16 he left home and went to Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute where he learned. He then received a job there and this school became one of the leading schools in the country. Washington publically expressed that he thought African Americans should accept discrimination as long as whites allowed them economic progress, educational opportunity and justice in courts. After working hard to advance racial equality Booker T. Washington died on November 15th, 1915 due to congestive heart failure. W.E.B. Dubois was born on February 23rd, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He attended school with white people growing up. In 1885 he moved to Nashville and attended Fisk University. Here he became fascinated in the Jim Crow laws and American racism. After Fisk he attended Harvard and learned about political perspectives he hadn't seen before. Dubois believed that African Americans should have equal rights to whites and not have to suffer for any reason. He passed
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in Virginia 1856. He pushed himself to get an education and eventually went to Hampton Institute (“BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.”) Washington argued that African Americans should not waste too much time trying to overturn Jim Crow laws. He believed that they should instead adjust to segregation. This way they could establish a reputation as hard-working and honest citizens (Lapsansky-Werner 522). With this tactic, he was able to start the Tuskegee Institute, which provided industrial and vocational education.