Both W.E.B Du Bois and Booker T. Washington were prominent figures in the advancement of African Americans during the 19th and 20th centuries. The facade of unity among these leaders was broken when Du Bois addressed Washington’s book, Up From Slavery, in a chapter named “Of Booker T. Washington and Others” from his novel, The Souls of Black Folk. Although he did acknowledge the accomplishments of Washington, Du Bois was clearly opposed to most of his ideas. Through the topics of submission and education, Du Bois exposes the paradoxical nature of Washington’s plan and presents a stronger argument than the passive Washington.
As Washington tries to prevent controversy within the white and black communities, he weakens his arguments and is
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After making this blanket statement about the shared compassion of slave and master, he comments, “From some things that I have said one may get the idea that some of the slaves did not want freedom. This is not true. I have never seen one who did not want to be free, or one who would return to slavery” (pg. 555). In this instance, he is concerned that the black community will think he is advocating for slavery and tries to fix it by clarifying his view on slavery a few paragraphs later. However, this is not a clarification, it is Washington contradicting himself. The two ideas he presents, slavery made a mutualistic relationship between black and white people and his disapproval of slavery, are on very opposite sides of the spectrum. If he opposes slavery, there is no reason to mention his experience with a nice master because very few slaves had that experience. The conflict between ideas creates doubt and decapitates his argument before it can be scrutinized. Because of his concern with pleasing everyone, Washington appears submissive and creates weaknesses in his argument that Du Bois easily discredits.
Washington believed that industrial education is superior to the higher education of African Americans and Du Bois’s argument against this shows the flaws within his reasoning. In order for African Americans to be truly considered equal in the American society, they
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
In the earlier years of post-slavery's many uncharted territories, differences in opinions were prevalent. Such was clearly evident when referring to Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois' views of what freedom really enfold. The Atlanta Exposition speech given by Mr. Washington gives us insight into how the writer felt about challenging events of that time and how they should be handled. Although met with considerable amounts of praise, some coming from the head of state himself (then president Grover Cleveland), and Mr. Washington's address was, in one word, flawed to some. W. E. B. Du Bois was a part of that some and had no problem voicing his opinion in Of Mr. booker T. Washington and Others. The inconsistencies in viewpoint between
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
Both Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois recognized that there was a gap between them that took completely different approaches to achieve one goal. Until the time of Du Bois, Washington was among many of the black activists. Many people today still condemn the views of Washington and his “racial uplift.” Washington being educated in Hampton, a Freedman’s Bureau, believed that if you were taught the skills, African Americans would be able to improve themselves economically and the rest of equality would follow. But DuBois on the other hand was educated at Harvard, and he
During the turn of the century, between the years 1895 and 1915 there were many theories of how African Americans were going to achieve first-class citizenship. At this time first-class citizenship was determined by at least three aspects: political power, civil rights, and the higher education of Negro youth. Two prominent black leaders arose in order to accomplish this feat. They had two different ideas for one goal. These two black leaders during this time were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Booker T. Washington was considered at this time to be the spokesman of the black race, however, W.E.B. Du Bois proposed a plan that set him right under, if not with, Mr.
Anthony Hopkins Essay 5/2/16 Booker T Washington Booker T Washington was a black American leader of all leaders his goal was to help progress the black community into a state where they could excel and get better with time. He was a slave comes from from a time where poverty and being black and segregated was nothing new they were use to it. But this didn’t mean they didn’t want to change things. They always wanted things to be better many people became very influential leaders because of the struggle of education, poverty, and helplessness.
“Writing code names and protecting the blacks from lynch mobs, though these efforts were rarely known in his time.” “Washington philosophy and “Tuskegee machine”won him widespread support among the northern white philanthropists as well as acclaim among blacks.” The purpose of him making speeches to discuss whites and blacks can stand with full justice to each race.
W.E.B. Dubois, co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was born in the North to a line of free black Americans. He was the first black to be awarded a Ph.D. He was the best known opponent to Washington. He taught at various universities throughout his time, and at one school, conducted research on ‘the Negro problem’. While he continued to do research, he began to realize the discrimination that many blacks faced in the south. This led him to begin to go against the teachings of Washington. Dubois believed that Washington was submissive to what was the Southern Caste system and had a narrow conception of black education. In fact, Dubois was so against the teachings of Washington that there was a chapter dedicated to him in his book The Souls of Black Folks. Dubois called Washington’s actions the ‘Atlanta Compromise’ and argued he was attempting to win the adoration of white
How one understood the immediate past had direct bearing on how one defined appropriate strategies for the future.
Du Bois illustrates that there was a change in demands of free Blacks living in the North, as “they recognized the slavery of slaves, but insisted that they were freemen, and sought assimilation and amalgamation with the nation on the same terms with other men.” (Baym Et al. 542) There were cultural, and principle divides between the southern slaves and northern freemen. Both groups were African-Americans, though the freemen did not insist to free the slaves, as it would tarnish the reputation that they have built. These ideas were a part of Booker T. Washington’s position on Plessy vs. Ferguson, which insisted African-Americans were “separate but equal”. Du Bois resents Booker T. Washington as he “represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission.” (Baym Et. al 542) The thought of having separate facilities for all races demonstrated that racism was prevalent. Booker T. Washington was reminiscent of keeping the status quo as he was afraid of starting a race conflict between blacks and whites as African-Americans lost the right to vote under the Compromise of
Washington overlooks the fact that black people have done what they needed to throughout history to gain respect and it has never worked. White people never look at black pride or black interests as positive, and assimilation allows them to ground blacks and keep them without a true identity, keep them under an oppressive thumb and keep them not knowing about their true mental gifts. As Washington states, "No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem. " Preached this way, this man actively encourages African-Americans to remain stuck in a devastating mentality that could have wiped out the race a long time
Imagine that you have finished slaving the day away at your job where you earn little to no pay. It is a cold wintery day and you have nothing to keep you warm physically or mentally. You start to think about your family and suddenly lose focus, then the next thing you know, you are struck by a whip. Scenarios like this happened often during the 18th and 19th century. Although slavery was abolished in 1865 most African-Americans were still being whipped, beaten, hanged, and starved. During the 18th and 19th century, African-Americans were segregated and discriminated against solely because of the color of their skin. Due to unfair treatment of African-Americans, many activists whose main goal was to earn African-American rights, emerged. Two very important and very different activists who fought for their own rights as African-American citizens during this time were, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. Booker T. Washington was an activist that believed fighting for equality would only lead to more anti-black violence. (“Booker T. Washington”) Washington decided to accept discrimination temporarily in order to achieve his end goal of abolishing discrimination against blacks. While Washington took a mild and slow approach to the subject, W.E.B Du Bois took an aggressive approach. Du Bois found black discrimination unacceptable and would not just let it take place. (“W.E.B Du Bois”) In return, he founded the NAACP,
Booker T. Washington was an american author, writer, educator, orator, and advisor to presidents of the U.S.A. ; W.E.B Du Bois was a Pan-Africanist, author, writer, editor American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist. Both outstanding men in their time, an unmeasurable amount of work achieved, and in both done in the 19th century. By using different aspects of their childhood, accomplishments, and view on civil rights both men can be compared and contrasted emancily. To begin this educated journey ,Booker T. Washington’s childhood creates an uplifting effect towards any person. Booker T. Washington’s effort just to have an education was incredible just by itself, having to work many hours before an after school just to make up for the work that was lost when he was in school. Booker T. Washington was born in Franklin County, Virginia around the 1850s, Booker T. Washington spent his early childhood as a slave. Chasing emancipation, Washington (like many Blacks) felt that a formalized education was the more efficient way to improve his living accommodations. Due to social segregation, the availability of education to blacks was unreasonable limited. Any student would have a horrendous attitude towards this, but not Booker T. Washington ,”“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed”(Norton pg.122). This quote can even