The Two Nations of Black America
The struggle for equality and the battle to have one’s suppressed voice be heard is prevalent throughout the history of the United States. The Native Americans, women, and even Catholics have all encountered discrimination and belittlement in one shape or form, which eventually urged individuals within those groups to rise up and demand equal opportunity. As the United States began to shift away from slavery, one of the most deep rooted, controversial dilemmas aroused- what do black people need to do in order to gain civil rights both economically and socially? Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Exposition Address” and W.E.B. Du Bois's “The Soul of Black Folks” were pieces of writings influenced by the puzzle that black people were left to solve. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois had contrasting ideas, but they both contributed a piece to the puzzle in hopes of solving the never ending mind game.
On September 18, 1895, African American leader Booker T. Washington delivered his speech which consisted of his idea for solving the “Negro problem”. In“Atlanta Exposition Address”, Booker T. Washington analyzes the idea of ending racism and discrimination through working their way up the social and economic ladder, or gaining equality naturally. He utilizes a story about a stray ship crew casting their buckets down for freshwater, and then uses that metaphor towards black people. He encourages members of his race to cast their buckets down in
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.
Booker T. Washing had a view of what it was to be American. In “Up From Slavery”, his address made in Atlanta, Booker T. Washington says “Cast down your bucket where you are.” In effect, he proposed that African Americans should accommodate themselves to racial segregation and political disenfranchisement in order to enjoy a greater degree of economic security. “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” Booker T.
Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois were both influential men in their time period. They both set goals for themselves and achieved them with high recogonization. Even though Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois lived two different lives, their main goal was to impact the minds of younger african american people.
Students participate in seminar discussion of excerpted versions of either Dubois’ article “Of the Training of Black Men” or Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise Speech” in order to better understand each man’s beliefs about the best strategy for African Americans to achieve equality at the turn of the century. Students analyze
Two great leaders of the black community in the late 19th and 20th century were W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. However, they sharply disagreed on strategies for black social and economic progress. Their opposing philosophies can be found in much of today's discussions over how to end class and racial injustice, what is the role of black leadership, and what do the 'haves' owe the 'have-nots' in the black community.
According to Matthew Mason’s academic journal “A Missed Opportunity? The Founding, Postcolonial Realities, And The Abolition Of Slavery,” African Americans have been enslaved in America since the early 17th century.” The first slaves were brought by the Dutch to the colony of Jamestown, Virginia to help harvest tobacco. The institution of slavery was practiced in America through the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Slavery helped to build the economic foundation of the United States. When the Emancipation Proclamation was passed by Abraham Lincoln in the year 1893 it changed the lives of over three million slaves who were reclassified as “slave” to “free.” Former slaves struggled to find their place within this new world of freedom which they had not yet known before. However, African Americans still faced problems such as discrimination, lack of opportunity, stereotyping, and mortality. Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois both confronted these issues. These two men advocated for the advancement of Black people within society, however in this essay I argue that Du Bois was more effective than Booker T. Washington because of his idea that African Americans should have the same possibility to achieve the same rights as any other race in the United States.
W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were both fighting for the betterment of blacks, but accomplished it differently. W.E.B Du Bois believed in blacks getting a classical education and obtaining equality. While, Booker T. Washington wanted blacks to focus on vocational skills and give up their rights to be a success. W.E.B Du Bois disagreed because he believed that African Americans should not limit themselves to vocational labor but preferred that they educated themselves so they would be recognized as full citizens. They had both similarities and differences when it came to achieving education and equality for blacks.
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.
Throughout the course history many people have spoken out in criticism of the unbalance of one’s basic rights for a specific demographic, whether it be depending on one’s race gender or sexuality. In America, The African American population are a leading example of this struggle as for them, it still persists to this day. In 1895, Booker T. Washington, A civil rights leader who was born into slavery but was later granted freedom after slavery was abolished, gave his famous speech known as “The Atlanta Compromise.” a speech that unlike more modern speech takes a more passive tone in its explanation due the limitations of the time period. While this may be a big shift from what were used to, this doesn’t take away from the impact of his message. His warning to the white populous of the south, that if they don’t include the African-American demographic, 1-3 of the population at the time, their economy will suffer.
Washington believed that black people should work hard with jobs that were agricultural, mechanical, commercial, and in domestic services to rise up. He recommended that blacks should accept discrimination for a time being and concentrate on elevating themselves through hard work and material prosperity. When following his recommendation for black it would win the respect of whites and lead to African Americans being fully accepted as citizens and integrated into all levels of society. On September 18, 1895, Booker T. Washington spoke before a white audience in Atlanta and in his speech he mentioned an illustration about a ship being lost at sea for many days and a friendly ship passed and the ship that was lost send out a signal to the friendly one. The ship that was lost cried out to the friendly ship in distress and the friendly ship said in response, “Cast down your bucket where you are”. The lost ship then became distressed once more and again the friendly ship said the same thing. This time the lost ship listened to cast down his bucket. At the end of the illustration it says, “and it came up full of Fresh, sparkling, water.” My interpretation of this illustration in his speech is if black people act in a way that makes white people feel powerful they would give blacks a little more respect instead of trying to go against them.
During a time period when slavery had finally come to an end, African Americans still struggled as their opportunities for equality were next to nonexistent. In this time of hardship and unfair treatment, not many of those facing these adversities had the courage to speak out on their beliefs for change; Booker T. Washington and WEB Dubois, however, did not possess such fears — both thoroughly articulated their opinions and stood for what they believed was right. Booker T. Washington and WEB Dubois shared a few commonalities — both men were highly educated, for example, as well as they both expressed strong opposition against segregation. Washington’s Up from Slavery: An Autobiography and Dubois’
Booker took his chance in addressing at the Atlanta Exposition as the essential opportunities in sharing his thoughts about the race problem. Therefore, he composed it cautiously. He was the first African-American to address in front of the white audiences about race relation. In his speech he used the analogy “Cast down the bucket where you are” to express his opinion. What he meant by this was the friendly cooperative work between two races, just as the friendly ship alerted the distressed ship to cast down the bucket right there to take fresh water from the mouth of the Amazon which meeting. He wanted to notify the people of his own race to cast down to making friends with the whites, to great agriculture, mechanics, and in professional
Inspire people, massage their mind, and prevent them from self-destruction. Not all people, just those within your racial decent. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois were the epitome of positive influence and solving the educational struggles in the Black community. These two influential individuals had a heavy impact on their culture because they both started working at a young age, they were relatable and both were exposed to education and took an interest at an early age in life.
What do you want right now? Most people would say money, food, phone etc. Something that requires work and money to get. But what if you wanted something that doesn’t cost any money? Like love, freedom, and family. It takes effort to earn those. The effort you put in though, do you fight for it or wait for it to come? Booker T washington was the waiting person. He was a african american that spoke for black people and wished for more rights. W.E.B Du Bois was another african american that has wished for more rights, but was a strong fighter. Both Booker T and W.E.B wanted the same thing, but went to get in two completely different ways but they both provided the way we see black people now.
In the context of these responses to white supremacy, the relevant issue of race relations was also hotly debated within the black community. These different perspectives were exemplified by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. In his Atlanta Compromise in 1895, Washington stated that blacks ought to accept disenfranchisement and social inequality for the opportunities of economic progress. He advocated “common labor” rather than agitating for social equality. Succinctly and to the point, he asserted, “the opportunity to earn a dollar in a factory just now is worth infinitely more than the opportunity to spend it in an opera-house.” Du Bois responded powerfully. Criticizing Washington’s conciliatory stance, Du Bois refused to accept the injustices he saw against the black community. He advocated for civil rights, political power and social equality. Led by a black elite, he believed the black community could achieve these goals with higher education. The various responses and vibrant debate in the black community against white supremacy illustrated that blacks were not simple victims of