Booker T. Washington's Speech Analysis

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.

Booker T. Washington is one of the most respected and influential African American figures in American history, Mr. Washington was born into slavery and was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. His peaceful personality along with his exceptional education in many different studies turned him into a well-rounded individual. Washington wanted blacks and whites to become partners and strive for both races to succeed. He delivered his most famous speech in 1895 known as the “Atlanta Compromise”. In Atlanta Georgia, Mr. Washington expresses himself with exceptional rhetoric and tone throughout his speech. He states that African Americans should take benefit of what they know and endeavor

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

One of the primary differences between DuBois and Washington was in the ways they believed equality would be achieved. DuBois believed that political change was the first step in achieving equality. If the black populous worked on economy only then they would perpetuate the stereotypes that white people place upon them. By accepting racist and prejudicial viewpoints, the African American communities were affirming their inferiority to the white majority. Only through political equality, for example the right to vote, could men enact any real or meaningful social and

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.

Two of the most influential people in shaping the social and political agenda of African Americans were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois, both early twentieth century writers. While many of their goals were the same, the two men approached the problems facing African Americans in very different ways. This page is designed to show how these two distinct thinkers and writers shaped one movement, as well as political debate for years afterward.

A well-known African-American spokesman and leader, Booker T. Washington, in his speech, The Atlanta Compromise, describes how the treatment and equality aren't the same for African American people as it is for white people. Washington’s purpose is to try and persuade his audience that black and white people should have the same rights and be treated equally. He adopts a passive tone in order to convey to his audience that the black community does a lot of services for white people and aren’t treated as such. Booker T. Washington effectively convinces his audience that everyone should have equal rights through diction, facts and statistics, and figurative language.

In this article written by Booker T. Washington, he speaks on his ideology of self-reliance and self-help. Washington was an educator, reformer, and also known as the most influential black leader of his time, who encouraged many African Americans to be in acceptance of segregation. The document begins as he explains the excitement all the slaves felt when President Lincoln addressed the Emancipation Proclamation. As all the wild rejoicing was occurring from the slaves, they soon come to realize that with this freedom came a lot of responsibilities. Washington notices the change in moods as the slaves come to the realization of what is to come. As he gave his speech at the opening of the Atlanta Cotton states and International Exposition, at

DuBois felt that blacks should be equal even if they were not educated. That they should not have to conform to their environment to become educated. Du Bois wrote a response to the Atlanta Compromise. Du Bois was a black man from the North so he did not see the things that Washington show first hand. He wanted equality for blacks as well but he was already free so he did not experience the lifestyle of being

Booker T. Washington’s speech “Atlanta Compromise” stressed on the importance of economics. Washington argued that blacks’ need for education and economic progress were foremost the important. He believed that blacks should focus on learning industrial skills for better wages. I believe his political views were shaped based on the way he was raised, Booker T. Washington was born into slavery on a southern plantation. His political positions were based on how blacks should focus on raising themselves through their labor work and to rather accept the discrimination that they received. In his speech he mentions the phrase “Cast down your bucket”, this hold strong importance because throughout the speech he stresses the powerful meaning that white men should be able to trust a black man. Washington wants white men to understand that black men are the ones who never get anything in return for doing jobs for white men, while they do these hard labor jobs it turns out successful. I believe that this what Booker T. Washington wanted, he wanted recognition for black men doing these hard labor jobs to one day earn better wages. Booker T. Washington wanted to please white men and white society to not cause a stir during the civil rights movement.

Two great leaders in the late 19th and 20th century of the black community were W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. Even after of slavery, African Americans fought for their equal rights and opportunities. During the time of unfair treatments, few people found the courage to speak out on their beliefs for a change. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois regularly coherent their opinions and stand for what they believe is right. However, they sharply disagreed on strategies for black social and economic progress. Their opposing personality, philosophies, and legacy can be found in much of today 's discussions over how to end class and racial injustice.

Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise”, was hopeful for a future where blacks were not seen by the color of their skin, but as equals. Blacks could learn a trade skill or have minimal education, and it would help them to be integrated into society. Although they labored fields, build railroads, and fought wars, they were still never fully accepted in society for their contributions. Washington says, “Cast down your bucket where you are…, this magnificent representation of the progress of the South”. Washington believed African Americans can prove their usefulness to whites, and not be regarded as second class citizens. In doing so, he asked the blacks to not to make demands such as social equality. Although, Du Bois felt if they adapted

Racial discrimination, political, social and economic inequality during the late 19th century and early 20th century led various leaders within the black community to rise up and address the appalling circumstances that African Americans were forced to endure. Among these leaders were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois whom possessed analogous desires as it pertained to the advancement and upliftment of the black race. While both individuals were fighting for the same cause and purpose they embraced contrary ideologies and approaches to African American struggle. In Booker T. Washington’s book “Up from Slavery” African Americans were encouraged to be passive and focus on vocational education whereas in W.E.B. DuBois book “The Souls of Black Folk”, African Americans were encouraged to fight for their merited rights and focus on academic education. However, although Washington was convinced that his ideologies would sincerely uplift the black race, they actually proved to be detrimental, leaving DuBois ideology to be the most reasonable and appropriate solution for the advancement of the black race.

Lynchings of African Americans were reaching staggering rates towards the 1900s. In light of this events, Washington made his famous speech in Atlanta which led to the signing of the Atlanta Compromise. This ‘compromise’ is an agreement that the Southern African Americans will willingly and humbly submit to the political subjugation of the Whites in exchange for the guarantee that they will be granted basic education and the right to due process in legal procedures (Bieze, 2012). Washington is vying for a lesser kind of social justice when compared to Du Bois, but this kind of justice may perhaps also be the one that may be found acceptable in the eyes of white supremacists, many of which possess congressional, judicial and executive powers in the country. The drawback of this arrangement is that African Americans, by being signatory to this compromise, will also have to give up their agitation towards equality in the manner that Du Bois desired. Washington’s approach may be criticised as being a weak way to advocate for the well-being of the African American people, but it is important to understand that Washington sees such a compromise as a means achieving better civil rights in the future. Washington (1895) states in his ‘A Plea for

One in particular was W.E. DuBois because of Washington’s “accommodationist” approach. According to Du Bois, Washington’s controlling influence was the most extreme in the Negroes history. Du Bois credited Washington’s timing as the catalyst to his leadership. Because the free Negroes from 1830 until wartime had attempted to build industrial school that taught various trades to bridge an alliance with elite Southerners, Du Bois reminds his audience that Washington’s plan is not original. Nevertheless, Washington takes the past ideas and markets it in his program at Tuskegee Institute and gets the support of Whites- Southerners and Northerners. Du Bois criticized Washington’s plan as abandonment the basic rights of manhood-political power, civil rights and higher education. In contrast, industrial education, land ownership, wealthy accumulation and the appeasement of the South are the doctrines of Washington’s plan. Du Bois says that Washington’s plan is impossible if Negroes don’t have civil and voting rights. Not only is Washington’s plan flawed in concept but he does not have the support of two classes of Negroes, the separatist who hate whites because of racial injustice and the activist who petition for civil rights. Du Bois is absolute in pointing out that Washington’s plan of ceasing to obtain civil rights and replacing its efforts with subserviency was supported by Du Bois. He emphasizes that the educated white man wants to disenfranchise then Negroes, or deport them, the uneducated white man hates the Negroes because they are competing for the same jobs, and the white business men or” moneymakers” aspires to use the Negroes as cheap labor and to endanger them to Jim Crow law and behavior. Because of the Negroes’ “wrong education in the past”, the South’s justification of Negro treatment, and self- efforts of the