Compare And Contrast Washington And W. E. B. Dubois

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.

Dubois said, “Mr. Washington distinctly asks that black people give up, at least for the present, three things, --First, political power, second, insistence on civil rights, third, higher education of Negro youth, and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, and accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South.” Washington believed that the blacks could not move forward without giving up political power, civil rights, and higher education. He thought they had to give up those ideas for now and focus on wealth, industrial education and be friendly with the south. He thought once these objects were accomplished then the blacks could obtain the freedom and rights they wanted. Therefore, he felt that for now the color-line was ok because blacks needed to first earn their rights before they were handed over to them.

Washington was often looked at as an “Uncle Tom” because of the things he did, such as advising blacks to remain in the South and to avoid politics and protest in favor of economic self-help and industrial education. He eventually became a powerful political boss, friend of white businessmen like Andrew Carnegie, and advisor of some presidents. Washington publicly accepted without protest racial segregation and voting discrimination, but secretly financed and directed many court suits against such proscriptions of civil rights. To Washington his ideas was obvious and clear, by earning the respect of whites they would either help blacks or deal with their crime against humanity that will eventually bring them down.

Booker T. Washington was slave who became a self-made man. William E.B. DuBois was a northerner with a New England background e had his P.H.D. from Harvard University. Booker T. Washington's philosophy was the concern of the African Americans it was tempered by his belief in concerning the role of African Americans was tempered by his belief in “settlement”. He honestly felt that if the African Americans race ignored the discrimination, and concentrated on their economic future, that their political rights would in fact follow. He believed in no shame in manual labor. Mr. W.E.B. DuBois strongly believed that the African American race should have limited themselves to vocational labor but to defiantly educate themselves to have knowledge and know all their rights to be a citizen. He rejected the idea of “settlement’ and felt that would happen through political equality (voting rights), and the African Americans achieve economic and social equality. DeBois philosophy had more active meaning to it when being compared with the philosophy of Booker T.

He decided that African Americans should temporarily accept discrimination and racial inferiority from white Americans. He believed that over time, African Americans would earn their equality and fair treatment as they rose economically and became more educated. His focus was in teaching industrial education or education about entering the workforce to African Americans, so they could learn and also economically prosper. In his Atlanta Compromise speech, Booker T. Washington showed what he believed about education and work by saying, “No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” (Washington). This quote shows that he believes education is just as important as work, and he believed both are needed to be successful. This connects with his own life where he was constantly working but also getting educated. Also in his Atlanta Compromise speech, Booker T. Washington publically declared that he would accept segregation and inferiority of the black race in exchange that white Americans would allow education opportunity, economic growth and fair court justice for African Americans (“Booker T. Washington” PBS). He thought that if African Americans had these rights, they would eventually be able to prove themselves worthy of equality. Finally, Booker T. Washington opposed directly fighting back for rights and equality because he thought it would only lead to more violence against

Even after the abolishment of slavery, African - Americans fought for their equal rights and opportunities. When slavery ended radical discrimination has became big obstacle, only a few found the courage to speak out on their beliefs for a new change. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois both share a few commonalities; expressing strong opposition against segregation, and a massive amount of education. W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington were two very influential leaders in the black community during the late 19th century. They were both well-educated African- Americans; who wanted justice and equal rights for African – Americans. But they both had different points of view on economic and improvement of social standing for blacks. W.E.B Du Bois argued that Africans- Americans deserved the same rights as whites and they should not have to sacrifice their constitutional rights in order to achieve a status that they already deserved. On the other hand Booker T. Washington believed that blacks has to gradually work their way from the bottom to the top, achieve positions of power and responsibility, and then demand their rights for equal citizenship. Du Bois’s argument is more effective because every person deserves to be treated equally whether they have an education or not. WEB Du Bois had a better method of achieving his goal, because it didn’t give whites any type of power.

1a. Booker T. Washington had a very different social philosophy than most African Americans pursuing their freedom had during this era. This philosophy brought upon much tension and many tended not to agree with Washington’s ways of thinking. One of the people who disagreed with Washington was W.E.B. Du Bois. Both Washington and Dubois were essentially striving towards the same outcome, but they both had different approaches. Booker T. Washington argued that African Americans must educate themselves and eventually this would show white Americans that they were valuable to society. However, W.E.B. Du Bois was completely against this ideology. He did not want to sit back and prove anything to white Americans who put them through treacherous conditions while they were slaves. He wanted to stand up and fight for his rights and the rights of his fellow African Americans. Du Bois’ goal was to gain every privilege that white Americans had. He wanted the right to vote, the right to education, and high economic standards for all African Americans. Washington on the other hand accepted racial segregation, which is clear in the statement he made that said, "In all things social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress." However, he also pushed for African Americans to be included in the economic growth of the South. This ideology of accepting racial segregation infuriated Du Bois because he felt that with this mind

There were two men black men who were compelled to strive for equality between blacks and whites, those men were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois and both had there own different approaches.

Washington. DuBois and the NAACP felt that they deserved equality and that they should not have to work for it, that they should just be treated equal. DuBois and the NAACP did not want to sit back and accommodate like Washington was proposing, they wanted to get out and fight for their rights and freedoms. Riots and court battles were a couple of ways in which were used to fight for their rights and freedoms. W.E.B Dubois was more likely to cause riots while the NAACP as a whole was more opt to pursue court battles in which to gain equality. I guess in this way, while still aggressive and still against Washington’s accommodation belief, the NAACP was trying to take a peaceful stand for equality. The NAACP, Washington, and DuBois all had the same goal for equality, they just had various standpoints on how to achieve that

They had different ideas on how to fix the problem that African-Americans faced while living in white America. The negro problem at the time resulted from the exclusion of the negro from the group life of American society. This problem was caused by the racial prejudice that the negro faced at the time, prejudice in all aspects of American life (cultural, socially, economically, and education). The two men saw that the only way to resolve this problem was by addressing them head on; so that African-Americans could later go on to integrate with their fellow American citizens and live regular lives. The debate split African-Americans on which vision to follow, the submissive and conservative of Washington or the aggressive and straight forward vision of Dubois. The importance of these two leaders to African-American history are unparallel. When analyzing the debate regarding the problem, I feel it is useful to examine the sides taken by each player regarding the economic, social, and political conditions facing the negro at the time and how they felt it could be improved for future generations. Through analysis a vision will be constructed using the two players arguments on what one may believe would be have made a perfect unison vision for the African-American race at the time.

Washington believes that blacks, starting with so little, would have to begin at the bottom and work up gradually to achieve positions of power and responsibility. DuBois understands Washington’s program, but believes that this is not the solution. DuBois shows opposition to Washington’s approach, not his intent.

Du Bois however could not remain silenced because he felt the need to aware others of the flaws within Washington's plan. In his doctrine, Washington focused on industrial education rather than higher education for African Americans. According to Washington, by doing this African Americans would win the respect of whites since they could provide something that the whites highly demanded. Du Bois, on the other hand, points out that by having the Negro youth concentrate on industrial education, it deprived those with the possibility of becoming great leaders the proper education needed to fulfill their destiny. It was imperative to provide this type of education to the Negro youth because without educated leaders there would not be anyone to properly fight for the rights of future African American generations. Aside from asking African Americans to give up higher education, Washington also asked that they surrender their political and civil rights. He urged them to accept discrimination in hopes of becoming integrated into the white communities. This belief of African American assimilation lead to "the disfranchisement of the Negro" and established "a distinct status of civil inferiority for the Negro." Du Bois criticized Washington for advocating the submission and inferiority of American Negroes instead of fighting for their

In Jan Miller’s article, “Annotating Bibliography of the Washington DuBois Controversy,” she states, “Washington had the belief in trying to work within the confining circumstance of the 1890’s, and so his immediate goals often appear accommodating whereas his ultimate aims were purposely rarely mentioned. He feels political and economic salvation would develop simultaneously” (254). Nevertheless, white people continue to walk over African Americans without a fight. Truthfully, Washington is content with gradual political rights because he has more social and political rights than he did before. The critic states, “Washington tried to persuade Whites of self-interest and urges Black to build up racial enterprises” (269). Washington continues to accommodate because he believes in time, African- Americans will be able to cast down their buckets and live a life of

Martin Luther King Jr, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. Dubois were the most impactful people in the civil rights era. Even though they were both run by different upbringings, they both had the drive for equality. Their intellectual thinking was a ruling characteristic for their leadership. MLK is a humanitarian Baptist that went to Boston University and Morehouse college. W.E.B. Dubois was a pan-Africanist historian that got his PhD in Harvard. Booker T. Washington is an educator that attended Hampton

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